Niagara vs Iona Expert Prediction: February 8th Odds, Game Info, Trends Expert Picks

It’s MAAC Thursday here at Bettingexpert, and that is a good thing for our readers when Ej dishes out college hoops betting advice. Ej has yet to lose one of his MAAC offers this season, and he is heading back to Niagara Falls, NY, again to find the dough as he did on Tuesday night,

The Iona Gaels will make the long trip upstate from New Rochelle to Niagara Falls, and it looks like Ej has his sights set on the home underdog to win this contest on Thursday night.

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• Selection: Niagara Purple Eagles +2.5 Handicap
• Best Odds:1.91
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stakes: 4/10

Odds are available as of February 8. Odds may now differ.

• Niagara Purple Eagles vs Iona Gaels Prediction
• Niagara Purple Eagles vs Iona Gaels Game Info
• Niagara Purple Eagles vs Iona Gaels Odds
• Niagara Purple Eagles vs Iona Gaels Trends
• Niagara Purple Eagles vs Iona Gaels Stats & Form
• Niagara Purple Eagles vs Iona Gaels Where to Watch
• Safer Gambling

NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES VS IONA GAELS PREDICTION

Boy, did we get lucky on Tuesday night with Niagara to cover the -4.5 point handicap, as the Purple Eagles won by 5, and it took two free throws with under a second left to play to cash it! Niagara was down big against Canisius, but the Gallagher Center crowd helped lift the Eagles to the comeback and eventual cover for us.

So, we’re headed back to Niagara Falls for Thursday’s best bet, and I have my eyes on Niagara to provide an upset as a home dog tonight. We are getting +2.5 points, however, and I am never one to shy away from putting points in my pocket when they are there.

The line setters are expecting a close game, and I agree that this will be a game that comes down to the wire, especially after watching the fight that the Eagles have right now. I watch more MAAC basketball than most people on this planet and let me tell you how down I was when Canisius started pulling away from Niagara the other night. I thought my bet was toast. When the second half began, the Griffs were up 42 – 26, and then the comeback was underway!

By the 13-minute mark of the second half, the game was tied at 45 – 45, so that tells you that Niagara went on a 19 – 3 run to level the score in just five minutes of game time. The Griffs never went away, however, and it was a 3-point game with 11 seconds to play, and then the miracle happened. Niagara had two fouls to give, so they committed them, and it left only 3 seconds left on the clock for Canisius to try and tie the game with one last shot.

Tre Dinkins missed the 3-point shot, and after fouling Ahmad Henderson, he calmly buried both of his free throws with less than a second left to play lifting Niagara to a 69 – 64 win… and the cover of the -4.5 spread. That’s how close it was!

So, we take wins like that whenever we can find them, especially after I lost my Kansas first-half play on Monday night by a measly half-point! I thought I was in line to have it happen again, but we got paid with another MAAC play instead.

The bench for the Eagles played a major role in the win, as four subs picked up 22 points, and Harlan Obioha played like the big man that he is in the middle. If you watched that game as I did, Obioha towers over people with that 7-foot frame, and the Kansas native led the way with 16 points and 8 rebounds, while converting 8 of his 11 shots from the floor.

While the Eagles have won 5 of their last 6 games, the Iona Gaels have also won 5 of their last 6 games, and that’s likely why the line-setters expect a close game. I do too, and as much as I would like to take Niagara Moneyline to pick up the home win, just in case they don’t I will pocket the couple of points and change on the Purple Eagles.

Niagara has already marched into New Rochelle and handed the Gaels a loss this season, and the Eagles are trying to sweep the season series for the second time since 2020. That was also a 2-point game, and that is sticking with me. That game came down to the final shot, and so will this one!

• Selection: Niagara Purple Eagles +2.5 Handicap
• Best Odds: 1,91
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stakes: 4/10

NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES VS IONA GAELS GAME INFO

• Friday, February 9th
• Time: 00:05 UK Time
• Venue: Gallagher Center, Niagara Falls, NY

NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES VS IONA GAELS BETTING LINES

Odds are available as of February 8, 2023. Odds may now differ.

NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES VS IONA GAELS STATS AND FORM

• Niagara has hit the Team Total Over in 22 of their last 30 games.
• The Purple Eagles are 8 – 0 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog.
• The Gaels are 1 – 4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 90 points in their previous game.

NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES VS IONA GAELS STATS AND FORM

The Purple Eagles have won 5 of their last 6 games, and have also taken wins from 9 of their last 11 outings.

Niagara is carrying the momentum from a 16-point deficit win against Canisius last time on this court, and they have already earned a win over Iona on the road back on January 7, 75- 73.

Iona has also won 5 of their last 6 games, and they’ve been doing it with their offense. The Gaels have averaged 83.1 PPG over the last 6 games, which is well above their average of 74.2 PPG for the season.

Greg Gordon leads the Gaels in scoring, averaging 15 points per game for the Gaels, and if you missed his putback slam dunk against Rider you have got to look it up. Just before the 8-minute mark of the second half, Gordon leapt for a rebound, grabbed it with his left hand, and in the air, transferred it to his right hand and rocked the rim! GO FIND THE VIDEO, because you will be impressed!

Iona only has two players scoring double-digits this season, and no one on the Iona roster has the inside presence to deal with Obioha in the paint.

NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES VS IONA GAELS WHERE TO WATCH

This game can be seen on ESPN+ for Subscribers at 7:05 PM EST (US).

SAFER GAMBLING

At bettingexpert, we always take a safe approach to gambling. We’ll never bet more than we can afford or chase losses. For more advice, head to our Safer Gambling hub.