Game Preview: Massachusetts Minutemen vs Boston College Eagles

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2009

Massachusetts Minutemen (6-5) vs. Boston College Eagles (7-4)

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The Massachusetts Minutemen and the Boston College Eagles are set to clash in a non-conference rivalry game on Wednesday in Chestnut Hill.

Boston College holds a 24-18 series lead over UMass, which includes an exciting 85-81 victory over the Minutemen in overtime on Dec 6, 2008.

UMass has won its last two games to move to 6-5 overall including a nail biter in their last outing as freshman Terrell Vinson came up with a basket with 0.7 seconds left to beat the Memphis Tigers 73-72 on Saturday night. Vinson had 21 points and nine rebounds followed by sophomore guard Anthony Gurley with 14 points and senior guard Ricky Harris with 13 in the win. Harris is averaging 17.2 ppg this season, and Gurley checks in with 16.4 ppg. As for Vinson, he adds 10.4 ppg. The Minutemen are scoring 74.2 ppg, and allowing 74.3 point per game. UMass will be looking to post its first real road win of the season against the Eagles tonight.

The Eagles ended a two-game losing streak with a 72-46 win over Bryant on Sunday. Joe Trapani scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Corey Raji added 20 points and eight boards in the win. Junior forward Corey Raji leads Boston College with 15.4 points per game and is shooting 57.7 percent from the floor to go along with 8.4 rebounds per game. Joe Trapani has 7.4, while Reggie Jackson adds 7.0 rpg. The Eagles clearly have three players that can rebound the ball well and this has enabled the Eagles to dominate the boards, dragging down over 11.0 rpg more on average than the opposition. They are scoring 72.5 ppg through 11 outings while holding opponents to 65.5 ppg. However, the Eagles are struggling from beyond the three-point arc through the first 10 games, shooting only 30 percent (45-of-150).

The odds makers have the Eagles as –13-point favorites with a game total of 147.

Boston College has an edge with the home court advantage, but Umass will be carrying a ton of momentum with them after their big win over Memphis. Expect a close one as BC edges out the Minutemen 76-74.

Massachusetts Minutemen Betting Trends:
  • Massachusetts is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
  • Massachusetts is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of Massachusetts’s last 5 games when playing Boston College
  • Massachusetts is 1-9 SU in its last 10 games when playing Boston College
Boston College Eagles Betting Trends:
  • Boston College is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
  • Boston College is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home
  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston College’s last 5 games when playing Massachusetts
  • Boston College is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games when playing Massachusetts

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