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Columbia vs Boston College Picks and Odds

Jack Magruder

by Jack Magruder in College Basketball

Updated Nov 26, 2021 · 2:45 AM PST

Earl Grant on the sideline during his tenure at Charleston
FILE - In this Nov. 23, 2016, file photo, Charleston head coach Earl Grant instructs from the sidelines during an NCAA college basketball game against Villanova, in Villanova, Pa. Boston College has hired Grant from the College of Charleston as its men's basketball coach. Grant replaces Jim Christian, who was fired with three weeks remaining in his seventh season. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson, File)
  • Boston College is a 17.5-point favorite over Columba
  • Boston College 3-0 ATS as a favorite
  • Columbia is 1-1 straight up and ATS on the road

Boston College (3-3) is a 17.5-point home favorite against Columbia on Friday at 2:00 pm ET on ACC+ and ESPN+. The Eagles have lost their last three games.

Columbia (2-3) is back on the floor after the Ivy League cancelled the 2020-21 season because of Covid-19 concerns. All four of the Lions’ posted games have gone over the total.

Columbia vs Boston College Odds

Team Moneyline Spread Total
Columbia Lions +1000 +17.5 (-105) Over 135.5 (-110)
Boston College Eagles -2500 -17.5 (-115) Under 135.5 (-110)

Odds from FanDuel on Nov. 25.

Boston College’s three-game losing streak has included two losses to Rhode Island in a five-day span. both as a short underdog. The Eagles fell 57-49 at Rhode Island as a five-point dog Nov. 17 and lost to the Rams 71-65 in their last time out as a three-point dog in the loser’s bracket of the Sunshine Slam in Daytona Beach, Fla. on Sunday.

Columbia has lost all three games in the season series against BC, falling at Chestnut Hill in the two most recent, an 81-66 loss in 2018-19 and an 82-73  loss in 2017-18. The Lions are 10-30 against current ACC teams, and its last victory was on Dec. 27, 1969, a 101-78 decision over Wake Forest in the Quaker City Tournament in Philadelphia.

Boston College Rebuilds

Boston College has started over. The Eagles not been to the NCAA tournament since 2009, and after winning only two ACC games a year ago turned to new coach Earl Grant, who won at least 24 games in three of his seven seasons at College of Charleston and made the 2018 NCAA tourney.

Results are about as expected so far, with victories over lesser lights Dartmouth, Holy Cross and Fairfield and losses to Utah and Rhode Island.

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Junior point guard 6’3 Makai Ashton-Langford, the lone returning starter, leads the way by averaging 11.2 points and 3.5 assists. Second-year freshman 6’5 DeMarr Langford, Makai’s brother, is averaging a team-leading 12.2 points in a balanced attack that features four double-digit scorers.

Fifth-year 6’8 senior James Karnik had 15 points and 13 rebounds against Rhode Island in the Eagles’ last time out Sunday.

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The Eagles also built through the portal. Drexel 6’9 sophomore transfer T.J. Bickerstaff is averaging 11.2 points and 6.3 rebounds after averaging 10.2/6.2 at Drexel a year ago. and Chipola College freshman transfer 6’2 Jaden Zackery is averaging 11.7 points while shooting 53 percent.

Geronimo the Lion

Columbia freshman Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa continued his strong early play with a career-high 24 points in a 79-72 loss at Lehigh on Tuesday as the Lions attempt to move past a 6-24 record in 2018-19.

Rubio De La Rosa, a 6’2 guard, ranks among the Ivy League leaders in scoring (16.0), assists (4.6) and field goal percentage (44.8). He was the league rookie of the week a week ago with 35 points and 11 assists in the Lions’ victories over Binghamton and NCAA Division III Mount St. Vincent, their first two wins.

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Senior 6’7 forward Ike Nweke, expected to play an integral role, has missed the last four games with an apparent foot injury suffered in a 77-67 loss to Fordham in the season opener. He had 11 points before leaving.

Sophomore 6’7 forward Liam Murphy had a career-high 26 points against Mount St. Vincent and Sophomore 6’6 forward Josh Odunowo has stepped in with support, averaging 9.4 points and 4.8 assists off the bench. Odunowo had 16 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots against Binghamton.

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The Lions are shooting 40.2 percent from three-point range, which leads the Ivy League and is 27th in NCAA Division I. Murphy has made 12 for 31 threes, 38.7 percent, and Rubio De La Rosa is 11 of 30, 36.7 percent.

By the Numbers

Boston College is 130th in KenPom in adjusted efficiency margin, the lowest in the ACC. The Eagles lost 15 of their final 18 games a year ago, going 6-11-1 ATS.

Columbia is 337th of the 358 Division I schools in Ken Pom adjusted efficient margin, lowest among the Ivies.

A dip into the ACC, even into the shallow end, should be too much for the Lions.

The pick: Boston College -17.5 (-115)

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