Neither St. Bonaventure nor Richmond can win the Atlantic 10, but they still harbor slight hopes
of making the NCAA tournament, heading into the regular-season finale for both teams Friday
night at St. Bonaventure. Neither of these teams would make the Big Dance if invitations were
sent out today, but a win here and a couple of next week in the A-10 tournament might give them a
chance.
The Bonnies are lined as short home favorites in this spot. Who do we like for our free college
basketball betting pick?
College Basketball Betting Odds
Friday’s CBB betting lines opened St. Bonnie’s at -3 over Richmond, with an over/under of right
around 138. Early betting action then edged the Bonnies to -3.5.
According to Sagarin’s CBB ratings at sagarin.com, St. Bonaventure should be favored by three points for this match-up.
Richmond Betting Preview
The Spiders just had a mini two-game winning “streak” snapped by a 55-53 loss at home to Dayton Tuesday night. Neither team ever led that game by more than five points. Richmond, playing as a 1.5-point favorite, trailed almost the entire second half but tied the game on two free throws with 18 seconds left. Unfortunately, they then lost it by giving up a dunk off an in-bounds play with one second remaining.
The Spiders shot just 36 percent from the field Tuesday held the Flyers to just 38 percent
shooting but also got out-rebounded 39-29.
Richmond has now been out-rebounded by three of its last four opponents.
Two games ago, the Spiders rallied from behind to beat St. Louis 68-66, and three games ago, they won at George Washington 84-71. But Richmond is also only 3-3 SU, 2-4 ATS over its last six games.
At 19-11 overall and 10-7 in the Atlantic 10, the Spiders are shooting for better seeding in next week’s A-10 tournament.
St. Bonaventure Betting Preview
The Bonnies, meanwhile, just had a seven-game winning streak snapped by a rather dismal 74-51 loss at VCU Tuesday night. St. Bonaventure fell behind by double-digits eight minutes into the game, trailed 40-27 at the half and later by 27, on its way toward totally whiffing against the
spread as a 5.5-point dog.
The Bonnies shot just 33 percent from the floor Tuesday, allowed the Rams to shoot 51 percent and got out-rebounded 40-29.
Prior to that, St. Bonnie won seven in a row, albeit mainly against the second division of the A-10.
At 19-8 overall and 11-5 in A-10 play, the Bonnies are basically in the same position as Richmond; in need of a run from here into late next week to be considered for the NCAA
tournament.
- Get more details: RICH/BONA 3/4/22 Matchup Stats
Richmond-St. Bonaventure Recent History
The Bonnies beat the Spiders five times in a row from 2018 through last season, but Richmond won the first meeting between these teams this season one month ago 71-61, covering at -3.5.
That game was tied with nine minutes left, but the Spiders finished with a 22-12 run for the victory.
Both teams shot 47 percent from the floor that night, but Richmond won the battle on the glass 35-24.
Also, that game played under a total of 137.5.
Totals Report
The under is 17-12 in Spiders games this season, which are averaging 141.5 total points.
The Under is 14-13 in Bonnies games this season, which are averaging 137 points.
