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Teams that have struggled of late meet when the Niagara Purple Eagles face the host Quinnipiac Bobcats in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action on Friday. The Purple Eagles, who have lost two in a row and three of four, are in eighth place in the conference at 4-6. The Bobcats (3-5), who have dropped three consecutive games, are 11th in the MAAC at 1-3. Quinnipiac is 3-1 on its home floor this season, while Niagara is 2-6 on the road.

Tip-off from People's UniCenter in Hamden, Conn., is slated for 4 p.m. ET. Quinnipiac leads the all-time series 11-7. The Purple Eagles are one-point favorites in the latest Niagara vs. Quinnipiac odds from William Hill Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is set at 132.5. Before making any Quinnipiac vs. Niagara picks, check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model. 

The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past four-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of over $2,300 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Niagara vs. Quinnipiac. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college basketball odds for Quinnipiac vs. Niagara:

  • Niagara vs. Quinnipiac spread: Niagara -1
  • Niagara vs. Quinnipiac over-under: 129 points
  • NIA: Junior guard Marcus Hammond is averaging 18.7 points in four meetings with the Bobcats
  • QUIN: Senior forward Jacob Rigoni scored 37 points last weekend against Monmouth to surpass 1,000 career points

Why Niagara can cover 

The Purple Eagles' offense has spread the wealth this season and has five players averaging 7.5 points or more. Leading the way is Hammond, who is averaging 14.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He has reached double figures in 10 games, including 24 against Fairfield on Dec. 19. He recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds against Rider.

Also averaging double digits is senior forward Kobi Nwandu, who is hitting on 43.5 percent of his field goals and 75 percent of his free throws. He is averaging 12.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and one steal per game. Nwandu has reached double figures in 10 of 12 games, including a 21-point performance against Rider on Jan. 9. Nwandu has led Niagara in scoring three times and scored his 1,000th career point on Jan. 15 against Manhattan.

Why Quinnipiac can cover

The Bobcats are led in scoring by Rigoni, who is averaging 10.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He is nearly automatic at the free throw line, hitting 27 of 30 shots (90 percent). Rigoni is closing in on the school record for made 3-pointers. He has 221 made 3-pointers, 32 short of Rob Monroe's record set from 2001-05. Rigoni has started in 73 consecutive games for Quinnipiac.

Also leading the Bobcats is freshman guard Tymu Chenery, who is averaging 10.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, one block and 0.6 steals per game. He is hitting 44.8 percent of his field goals, including 44 percent from 3-point range. Chenery has already posted five games with 10 or more points, including two separate games of 17 points. He was named MAAC Rookie of the Week on Nov. 30 for his performance in Quinnipiac's season opener against Farleigh Dickinson. He scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds in that game. 

How to make Niagara vs. Quinnipiac picks

The model is leaning under on the total, projecting both teams to combine for 132 points. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that is hitting in well over 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Quinnipiac vs. Niagara? And which side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the computer model that has crushed its college basketball picks.