Manhattan at UConn odds, picks and predictions
The Manhattan Jaspers (3-1) and UConn Huskies (5-0) meet for a Friday matinee in Hartford. The opening tip at the XL Center will be at 2 p.m. ET (FS1). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Manhattan vs. UConn odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
Manhattan last played Sunday upsetting Central Connecticut State on the road. The Jaspers were a +4.5 underdog and won 67-63. New Manhattan coach John Gallagher has the team playing solid defense (41.8% field goal accuracy allowed); Gallagher coached at the University of Hartford from 2011-22.
The Huskies, ranked No. 4 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll, are coming off wins Monday and Tuesday against Indiana and Texas to take the title in the Saatva Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden. UConn is now back on home hardwood, where it is 3-0 this season and has won 7 in a row dating back to last season.
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Manhattan at UConn odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:30 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Off the board
- Against the spread (ATS): Manhattan +34.5 (-110) | UConn -34.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 140.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Manhattan at UConn picks and predictions
Prediction
UConn 90, Manhattan 55
Moneyline
Not available and you wouldn't want to bet it even if it was.
Against the spread
Manhattan lost to top-rated Kansas 99-61 on Nov. 10. The Jayhawks play at a faster tempo than the Huskies, but UConn has higher frequency rates on triples and free throws.
Pegging this game in the mid-30s is fair. It is also fair to wonder if this might be a bit of a sleepy game for UConn after its tourney at MSG. And the Huskies were not great in some down points of their Big East slate last winter. They sort of misfired in some non-covers against St. John's and Georgetown, a couple weak teams in the league.
But there is not enough confidence in the Jaspers being able to leverage a Huskies off-kilter performance. PASS.
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Over/Under
The total has gone Over in 4 of Connecticut's last 6 games.
With the way UConn gets to the charity stripe (23-plus attempts in 4 of 5 games) and with its will to shoot a lot of 3s against a Manhattan five that has struggled defending the perimeter (37.3% mark allowed), this could be a 90-point game for the Huskies.
For a team ranked outside the top-300 on KenPom, Manhattan does well to get to the rim with a bit of frequency. And the Jaspers can get out and score in transition.
BACK THE OVER 140.5 (-110).
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