George Washington vs Rhode Island Odds and Picks (Jan. 22)

• Rhode Island is a 15.5-point favorite over George Washington on Saturday
• George Washington is 1-3 straight up and ATS after a 25-day Covid pause
• Read below for analysis and a betting prediction

Rhode Island (12-4, 3-1 Atlantic 10) is a 15.5-point home favorite over George Washington in an Atlantic 10 game at 12:30 pm ET Saturday. The Rams are 8-0 at the Ryan Center after squeaking by La Salle 56-54 the last time out Wednesday.

George Washington (5-10, 1-2 Atlantic 10) is 0-6 on the road as it plays the second game of three-game road trip that began at Saint Joseph’s last Wednesday and will finish at Saint Louis this Wednesday.

Rhode Island vs George Washington Odds

Odds from FanDuel on Jan. 21

Rhode Island is a 15.5-point home favorite over George Washington, with the total set at a relatively low 133.5. The Rams’ -1400 price on the moneyline means they have a 93.3% implied win probability. George Washington is +800 on the moneyline, which gives them a minisule 11.1% implied win probability.

Identical Twin Towers

Rhode Island’s Mitchell twins, sophomores 6’10 Makhel and 6’9 Makhi, have become the rim-protecting back line of a defense that is one of the most effective in NCAA Division I.

The Rams are limiting opponents to 37.1 percent shooting from the field, fifth in Division I behind LSU, Arizona, Indiana and USC, which are all ranked among the KenPom top 27 in adjusted efficiency margin. The Rams are 83rd.

With Makhel leading the way, the Rams are fifth in Division I with 6.4 blocked shots per game. Makhel, a slight bit taller and heavier than his brother, is averaging 2.8 blocked shots per game, also fifth in the nation. Makhi has 18 blocked shots in 16 games.

Makhel (11.8 points, 5.0 rebounds), Makhi (9.8 points, team-high 6.1 rebounds) and senior guard 6’1 Jeremy Sheppard (10.8 points, 3.1 assists) are the top three scorers for a team that knows where its strengths lie.

ᴡᴇʟᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʟᴏᴄᴋ ᴘᴀʀᴛʏ!

Rhody leads @A10MBB in blocks (96) and is second in the nation in block percentage (21.1%) according to https://t.co/xTi2TsvdTD@Ortho_RI #GoRhody pic.twitter.com/80Qm4wIImX

— Rhody MBB (@RhodyMBB) January 18, 2022

The Rams are shooting 48.8 percent from the field, 18th in Division I, and never stray far from the basket. They average only 15.6 3-point attempts and 5.7 makes, both among in the bottom 10 percent in the nation, and their shot selection translates into a 55.1 effective field goal percentage.

Rhode Island, No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 3 Arizona are the only teams ranked in the KenPom top 18 in offensive and defensive efficiency. The Rams have held 13 of 14 Division I opponents below their season average.

George Washington vs Rhode Island H2H Results

Rhode Island is 6-2 straight up and 7-1 ATS in the series since the 2015-16 season. George Washington broke a five-game series losing streak when it won and covered as a nine-point underdog in a 78-70 home victory last February.

The Rams have won and covered the last three at home, the last two in an 80-53 victory as 10-point favorite in 2019 and 82-70 as a 10.5-point favorite in 2017.

GW Up and Down

The Colonials scored the biggest comeback win in coach Jamion Christians’s three seasons by overcoming a 13-point deficit in the final six minutes of a 77-76 victory against George Mason on Monday, but they were unable to sustain it the last time out in a 72-61 loss at Saint Joseph’s the last time out Wednesday.

Sophomore guard 6-2 Joe Bamisile has been to the go-to weapon recently, with a career-high 26 points including the game-winning basket with 3.5 seconds remaining against George Mason and a 22 points at Saint Joe’s. He has scored at least 20 in three of four A-10 games and has at least 25 in three of his last six.

𝙅𝙊𝙀 𝘽𝘼𝙈𝙄𝙎𝙄𝙇𝙀

• Career-high 2️⃣6️⃣ points
• Game-winning layup with 3️⃣.5️⃣ seconds left
• #2️⃣ play on @SportsCenter #RaiseHigh pic.twitter.com/h3TLYSL7nl

— GW Men's Basketball (@GW_MBB) January 18, 2022

Guard 6’4 James Bishop is the other double-figure scorer at 15.6 points per game, but GW’s other numbers are sobering. The Colonials are shooting 41.3 percent from the floor, 28.9 from distance, and they have a minus-6.8 rebound margin. They do not get to the line, and when they do they are shooting 65.3 percent.

One personnel issue to note — the Colonials’ most effective big man and leading rebounder 6’8 Ricky Lindo (8.7 points, 8.1 boards) has missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury and is questionable for the game.

WHAT A FINISH FOR JOE BAMISILE @GW_MBB pic.twitter.com/V6fBTVi0BP

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) January 17, 2022

George Washington vs Rhode Island Pick

Rhode Island’s strengths are GW’s weaknesses. The Rams have the best of the present and the best of the past in this matchup, plus the revenge factor here after losing to the Colonials in D.C. last season. After overlooking struggling La Salle but pulling out a late victory, the defense-first Rams should have no trouble getting back on track against the Colonials, the least-efficient team in the A-10 according to the KenPom rankings.

The pick: Rhode Island -15.5 (-110)