The UNC Greensboro Spartans and the VMI Keydets meet Saturday in college basketball action from Cameron Hall. UNC Greensboro is 8-5 this year and coming off a loss to Furman. As for VMI, they’re 9-6 so far this season. The Keydets lost to East Tennessee State in their last game. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
UNC Greensboro went on a 7-2 run over their first nine games, losing to only UMass and FIU. Since then it’s been a 1-3 run with a win over UMBC alongside losses to Tennessee, Towson and Furman in that stretch.
In the Furman game Tuesday, the Spartans were down 30-28 heading into halftime. UNC Greensboro couldn’t improve on that in a 58-54 loss. De’Monte Buckingham led the team on 14 points and seven boards, while Mohammed Abdulsalam added 11 points and nine rebounds.
Over on the VMI side, their first 11 games featured a 7-4 run. The losses came to Presbyterian (twice), Marist and New Orleans. It’s been a 2-2 stretch since with wins over Wofford and Furman between losses to Wake Forest and East Tennessee State.
Matched up against the Buccaneers on Wednesday, the Keydets posted a 17-point deficit in the first half. VMI fought back valiantly from there but still lost 80-79 in a tough outcome. Jake Stephens doubled up for the Keydets with 29 points and 15 rebounds.
VMI is 14-3 ATS in their last 17 at home and 6-0 ATS in their last six after an ATS win. The Keydets are 7-0 ATS in their last seven overall.
Meanwhile, the Spartans are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 road games and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 Saturday games. The under is 4-0 in UNC Greensboro’s last four Saturday games.
PICK: I’m going to take VMI. The Keydets had a rough first half against East Tennessee State in their last game, but they deserve credit for fighting back in the second. VMI has hit 70 points in each of their last four games and overall they’re scoring pretty well this year. As for UNC Greensboro, they’ve been at 64 points or below in each of their last four games. I don’t think the Spartans will have the gas to keep up if VMI gets going.