Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, CBB Picks, CBB Free Picks, CBB Predictions 1/24/25

Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, CBB Picks, CBB Free Picks, CBB Predictions 1/24/25

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

MICHIGAN @ PURDUE (PUR -4.5, 150.5)

PURDUE ML

Purdue led Ohio State by 16 points in the first half of their game on Tuesday night. The Boilermakers then proceeded to fall apart and lose to the Buckeyes, a team that had lost its previous three games. Purdue has not lost consecutive games at home since the 2019-20 season.

Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter is going to have his team ready to play. His start guard Braden Smith isn't likely to shoot just 3-for-14 from the field, especially at home. Smith averages 15.0 points per game and 8.9 assists, which ranks third in the nation. Trey Kaufman-Renn is Purdue's leading scorer averaging 18.3 PPG as well as 6.5 rebounds.

chigan likes to push the pace. The Wolverines rank 37th in possessions per game and they are a top 20 scoring team averaging 84.6 PPG. Their head coach Dusty May will have them ready to play too. Michigan hasn't done well in its last two games. They lost to Minnesota and needed overtime to beat Northwestern.

I don't like the number here, especially since Purdue is just 11-9 ATS on the season. However, the Boilermakers are 13-2 SU as a favorite and 9-1 SU at home this season.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

LIU @ ST. FRANCIS (PA) (LIU -1.5, 128.5)

ST. FRANCIS (PA) OVER 61.5 POINTS

Coach Rick grew up 6 miles from Loretto, Pennsylvania. That small town is the home of the St. Francis Red Flash. Coach Rick attended many games at the Stokes Building, now known as DeGol Arena. He also attended a number of basketball camps there while playing high school basketball.

The Flash have struggled this season. They are 7-13 overall and 2-4 in the Northeast Conference (NEC). If the Red Flash are good at anything, it's playing at home. They are 5-3 at DeGol Arena this season. Just last week, St. Francis traveled to LIU where they went cold and got beat 64-51. The Flash shot 19.2 percent from three and 35.4 percent overall.

That's not happening again, especially at home. They should shoot closer to their averages of 34% and 45.6%. Still, it will be a tough task beating LIU, which is a perfect 6-0 in NEC play so far. LIU plays at a slower pace, but I still think St. Francis can hit this team total. The Flash have hit their team total number in 17 of their last 27 games and they've gone Over tonight's number in three of their last four.

Ylose expert Coach Rick Bowe delivers his daily Quick Picks. The Coach continues to roll up big wins in MLB, college football, the NFL, and much more. Coach Rick offers a unique perspective to handicapping. Check out his daily free picks right here and jump on his daily Best Bets, which you can find right here at Ylose.com/coach.