Toledo at Miami 1/26/21 - NCAA Basketball Picks & Predictions

By: Lance |

Last Updated: 01/25/2021 at 11:03 PM ET

The Toldedo Rockets travel on the raod to Millett Hall to take on the Miami-Ohio Redhawks. Toledo comes into this game at the top of the MAC conference with an impressive 8-1 record in conference play, they’ve won two in a row at home over Central Michigan and the latter a 76-74 win over Kent State to improve to 13-4 overall. Miami-Ohio has won three in a row, the most recent win over Eastern Michigan 85-63 to move to 7-4 (4-2 conference). 

Toledo is the best offense in the MAC this season averaging 79.8 points per game ranking 43rd in the country in scoring offense. In conference play, that number is raised to 85.9 per game as the Rockets shoot 48.9% from the field and 38.9% from three. Toledo is the 25th ranked three-point shooting offense nationally. 

It’s a balanced scoring attack with 4 players averaging 13+ points per game and it all starts with senior guard Marreon Jackson. Jackson is averaging team-highs with 17.5 points and 5.5 assists per game and provides the Rockets with experience, having started 112 games this year. The emergence of freshman guard Ryan Rollin has been a huge addition, he’s second on the team with 15 points per game. In the paint, it’s junior forward Setric Millner who is pulling down a team-high 6.8 rebounds and 13 points per game.

Miami Ohio is an efficient offense that shoots the three well, they just don’t get off enough shots to have been successful this season and are averaging 72.5 points per game ranking 170th in the country in scoring offense. The Redhawks have shot 38.4% from beyond the arc, the 34th best clip in the nation this season.

Leading the way for the Redhawks is sophomore Dae Dae Grant, he’s coming off an All-Freshman campaign last saeson and averaging 13.4 points and 2.5 assists per game this season. Grant is taking nearly 8 threes per game and making an impressive 45% of them. Senior forward Dalonte Brown is avearging 12.6 points and pulling down a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game,

As seems to be the case with the entire MAC conference this season, neither of these teams have played much defense this season. Toledo is the nation’s 181st ranked scoring defense allowing 70.3 points per game but have limited opponents to 28.7% from beyond the arc. Miami-Ohio is allowing 69.5 points per game, 163rd in scoring defense and opposing teams are shooting 44.3% from the field.

Although Toledo has gotten off to a hot start this season, I think the balanced scoring attack from Miami-Ohio keeps them in this game to cover the spread. They have a real chance to win this game and extend their three-game win streak and even if they don’t get the win, Redhawk backers are getting five points at home. Give me the home underdog to cover the spread. Final score prediction, Miami-Ohio wins and covers ATS 76-71. 

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