Teams who have been trending in opposite directions square off in a Patriot League matchup on Monday afternoon when the Navy Midshipmen meet the visiting Holy Cross Crusaders. The Crusaders (4-10, 1-0), who have dropped five of their last seven, defeated Bucknell 60-58 on Friday to win its conference opener for the first time since the 2018-2019 season. The Midshipmen (8-5, 1-0), who have won three of their last four, have won seven of their last 11 meetings with Holy Cross. The teams split two games last season with Holy Cross earning a 55-50 road win in the last meeting.
Tip-off from Alumni Hall in Annapolis, Md., is set for 1 p.m. ET. Holy Cross is averaging 65.9 points per game, while Navy averages 73.3. The Midshipmen are 13.5-point favorites in the latest Holy Cross vs. Navy odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 132. Before locking in any Navy vs. Holy Cross picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters Week 9 of the season 30-16 on all-top rated college basketball picks, returning more than $800 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Navy vs. Holy Cross and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college basketball odds and betting lines for Holy Cross vs. Navy:
- Holy Cross vs. Navy spread: Navy -13.5
- Holy Cross vs. Navy over/under: 132 points
- HC: The Crusaders are 5-1 against the spread in their last six games overall
- NAVY: The Midshipmen are 5-0 ATS in their last five home games
- Holy Cross vs. Navy picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Navy can cover
Senior forward Tyler Nelson powers the offense, and is averaging 14.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game. In Friday's 75-58 win at Boston University, Nelson scored 25 points, while grabbing four rebounds. It was his second consecutive double-digit scoring effort in a row, following a 17-point, eight-rebound effort on Dec. 21 at VCU in a 74-52 loss. He has eight double-figure scoring efforts on the year with one double-double, a 20-point, 12-rebound performance in an 82-77 loss at Lipscomb on Nov. 30.
Senior guard Sean Yoder is one of six Midshipmen who are averaging at least seven points per game. Yoder is averaging 9.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Yoder is coming off a solid effort at Boston, scoring 17 points, while grabbing six rebounds. For the season, he has reached double-figure scoring four times, including a 20-point performance in a 74-73 win over Princeton on Nov. 11.
Why Holy Cross can cover
The Crusaders have three players averaging double-digit scoring, led by senior forward Gerrale Gates. Gates, who is connecting on 50.5% of his field goals, averages 17.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. He registered his fifth double-double of the season on Friday with 23 points and 14 rebounds. He has scored in double figures in all 13 games he has played in.
Junior guard Bo Montgomery averages 12.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. He has reached double-digit scoring in 10 of 14 games, all starts, including the last two games. He is coming off a 17-point, five-rebound effort against Bucknell on Friday. He scored a season-high 21 points in a 94-65 loss to then-No. 10 Creighton on Nov. 14.
How to make Holy Cross vs. Navy picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 136 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Navy vs. Holy Cross? And which side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is 30-16 on its top-rated college basketball picks this season, and find out.
