The Long Island Sharks and Air Force Falcons will meet in college basketball action on Tuesday afternoon. Air Force is off to a rough start to this season and they will try to get their first win of the season today on their home floor. Before this contest tips off from Fort Collins, continue reading to get my Long Island vs Air Force prediction for today.
LIU enters the game after a 1-1 start, getting blown out by Notre Dame before beating IU Indy. The Sharks are scoring 80.5 PPG and surrendering 89.5 PPG to open the season. Their field goal efficiency is solid at nearly 50%, with three-point shooting around 37.9%. But they have struggled from the free-throw line.
Air Force has struggled to open the year at 0-2. They were beaten by double-digits by both Belmont and Austin Peay. They’re averaging only 58.5 PPG, shooting 43.4% from the floor, and allowing 76.5 PPG. Guard Kam Sanders leads the team with 13.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 4.5 APG so far. He will need to have a big game if the Falcons are going to get the win here.
LIU is on the road in Colorado Springs, which means altitude and travel considerations. Air Force should theoretically have an advantage at home. But their early-season performance has made it clear that they are anything but a given to play well at home.
The Sharks were picked unanimously to finish first in the Northeast Conference this season and they are looking to build momentum in non-conference play. This early start in an unfamiliar environment will be a nice early test for them, even against a struggling opponent.
Score Projection: LIU 79 – Air Force 70
Win Probability: LIU 60%, Air Force 40%
The defense of LIU should be the difference maker in this matchup. The Sharks' defense is the best unit in this game according to the latest KenPom ratings and they should shut down an Air Force offense that ranks among the worst in the country. I'll lay the points with the Sharks in this contest, as they should improve to 2-1 on the season.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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