2013 College Basketball Odds and Picks: Minnesota @ Indiana Predictions – Free College Basketball Picks

2013 College Basketball Picks: Minnesota @ Indiana Vegas Odds and Predictions – Free College Basketball Picks 1/12/2013: Two of the best teams in the Big Ten and in the country will face off Saturday afternoon when the eighth-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers (15-1, 3-0 Big Ten) travel to Bloomington to face the fifth-ranked Indiana Hoosiers (14-1, 2-0 Big Ten). The Golden Gophers are on a tear and have reeled off 11 wins in a row, taking out ranked conference opponents Michigan State and Illinois along the way. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers are a two-point, overtime loss to Butler away from being undefeated. Both teams figure to be major players in the Big Ten title race, and the winner of Saturday’s game will take a big step in the right direction to do just that. Armed with one of the best home-court advantages in the country, the Hoosiers are 7 ½-point favorites.

An athletic, well-rounded roster has propelled Minnesota to a hot start. The Golden Gophers rank 45th in scoring, 22nd in rebounding, 22nd in assists and 32nd in field goal percentage. Guards Andre and Austin Hollins are both averaging double figures for a solid backcourt, and the duo provides almost all of Minnesota’s scoring from beyond the arc. In the frontcourt, forwards Rodney Williams and Trevor Mbakwe from one of the most athletic big-man tandems in the country. Williams is the better offensive player of the two while Mbakwe is the better rebounder. On the defensive end of the court, Minnesota is allowing less than 60 points per game and is second in the Big Ten in forcing turnovers.

Indiana is absolutely loaded with offensive firepower. Five players are averaging more than 11 points per game for the top-ranked scoring attack in the country. The offense also has plenty of balance with big man Cody Zeller leading the team in scoring while Victor Oladipo and Christian Watford are among the five players that have hit double-digit 3-pointers on the year. The Hoosiers love to push the pace and score in transition, and their offense ranks sixth in the country in field goal percentage. Indiana is solid defensively, as well. The Hoosiers rank 12th in the country in rebounds per game and are allowing less than 60 points per game. They also lead the Big Ten in turnovers forced per game.

The Golden Gophers Win If:

The Golden Gophers need to win the hustle categories if they are going to upset the Hoosiers. If they score more fast-break points and second-chance points, they have a chance to offset Indiana’s pure firepower. Defensively, Minnesota needs to make Indiana pay for playing at a fast pace by creating plenty of turnovers and limiting the easy baskets the Hoosiers get in transition. The Golden Gophers have one of the most athletic rosters in the country, and if they can hit enough shots to keep pace with Indiana’s high-powered, fast-paced offense, they can beat the Hoosiers at their own game.

The Hoosiers Win If:

Scoring points is never an issue for the Hoosiers, but they need to make sure that they take care of the ball against the Golden Gophers. Minnesota likes to use its athleticism and speed to create turnovers and create easy scoring chances in transition. If Indiana takes that element away, the Golden Gophers don’t really have the offensive firepower to keep pace with Zeller and company. In general, the Hoosiers will win this game if they take away Minnesota’s opportunities to get a lot of hustle-type baskets and make sure the game is decided by which team can score the ball better in half-court sets.

Bottom Line:

Ironically, Minnesota actually went into Assembly Hall last year and knocked off Indiana. However, this year’s Hoosier’s bunch is more experienced and has even more offensive firepower. Granted, the Golden Gophers have been impressive in their own right, but they have been using their speed and athleticism to manufacture a lot of their scoring opportunities. Meanwhile, they were unable to keep pace with the more polished offense of the Duke Blue Devils when they suffered their lone loss of the year. Duke pulled away to an 89-71 win, and Indiana’s offense has even more balance and firepower. In the end, Minnesota just doesn’t have the scoring punch to go blow for blow with the Hoosiers.

Prediction: Indiana Hoosiers (-7 ½) Cover the Spread

Minnesota @ Indiana
Line: Indiana -7
Total: Over/Under 144
Time: 12 PM EST on BIG10

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