Free Sports Picks: Marist, Rider Clash in Battle of Bottom-Feeders

Mar 3, 2019

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Oskeim Sports previews Sunday’s college basketball game between Rider and Marist. Oskeim recommends taking the points with the Red Foxes as one of his free sports picks for March 3.

Oskeim also suggests taking the point(s) with Maryland as one of his free sports picks this afternoon.  The Terrapins are hosting Michigan at 3:45 p.m. eastern tim.

Marist hosts Rider in its season finale and will be honoring its seniors prior to tip-off.  That latter fact is significant in that the Red Foxes have won seven straight games on Senior Day and are looking to avenge a heart-breaking 86-85 loss at Rider on January 27.

Marist’s senior class of Brian Parker, Isaiah Lamb, Ryan Funk, and David Knudsen has combined for the following career totals: 465 games played, 316 starts, 4,622 points, 1,558 rebounds, 636 assists, and 584 three-pointers made.

Marist’s senior class of Parker (14.5 ppg), Funk (11.3 ppg), Lamb (7.8 ppg), and Knudsen (7.7 ppg) has accounted for 61 percent of the Red Foxes’ scoring this year and I can assure that they want to finish their collegiate career with a win before the home faithful.

Lamb is Marist’s active leader with 119 career games, which ranks third in program history. Brian Parker is 19 points away from 1,800 in his career, and three rebounds away from
600.  Funk is shooting .483 (28-for-58) from three-point range in his ten games at McCann Arena.

The Broncs have really struggled on the road this season where they are a money-burning 5-11 SU and 4-12 ATS.  Rider is allowing 81.1 points per game on 48.6% shooting from the field and 37.4% from beyond the arc on foreign soil, which is significant in that the Red Foxes are making 37.6% of their three-pointers at home.

Funk is tied for second in the MAAC in three-pointers per game (3.0), and seventh in three-point percentage (.453).  Lamb is Marist’s most versatile player, leading the Red Foxes in rebounds (4.5 rpg), while sitting second in steals (0.8 spg) and is third in scoring (7.8 ppg) and three-pointers made (35).

The other issue hurting the Broncs is their inability to convert from the foul line.  Specifically, Rider is making just 61.4% of its free throws in 2018-19, including 57.9% over the last five games and 62.8% in conference play.

In contrast, Marist is shooting 70.9% from the charity stripe in conference play this season.  Funk (.906), Knudson (.895), Darius Hines (.824) and Aleksandar Dozic (.815) provide reliable options at the line down the stretch in what should be a competitive game.

From a technical standpoint, Rider is just 8-22-1 ATS in its last 31 games overall, including 5-15-1 ATS versus conference foes, 2-8-1 ATS versus .499 or worse opposition, 1-6 ATS following a loss and 0-4-1 ATS away from home.

Finally, don’t allow Marist’s three-game losing streak deter you from making this investment as the Red Foxes have been victimized by negative variance.  Indeed, Marist has shot under 40 percent from the field in each of its last three games and is 9-for-47 (.191) from three-point range.

Grab the points with Marist as one of Oskeim Sports’ free sports picks for Sunday, March 3, 2019.

Oskeim Sports’ Free Sports Picks for Sunday, March 3:

  • Marist (+2) over Rider
  • Maryland (+1.5) over Michigan

Be sure to visit Oskeim’s blog on a daily basis for more free sports picks!