MASSACHUSETTS MINUTEMEN @ BC

A neutral-site rivalry in Boston

BC is listed as the home team, but the teams are meeting at TD Garden rather than Conte Forum in their 49th meeting, with BC leading the series 26-22.

UMass showed defensive punch in its opener

UMass beat Troy 71-60 after a 32-1 run bridged halftime, finished with 10 blocks, and got seven of those from Abdullah Ahmed in his debut.

Wang gives UMass a frontcourt focal point

Junjie Wang opened the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Jordan Clayton added 16 points and 6 rebounds.

BC’s new-era opener was convincing

Boston College opened with a 76-50 win over Wagner, led by Money Williams' 22 points and 11-for-15 free-throw shooting.

Pick Ideas

Angles drawn from the matchup analysis above and refreshed as the news changes. They are a separate read from the LineCrush pick for this matchup, so the two can land on different sides.

Look for UMass points if the spread offers a cushion

A neutral floor and strong opener make UMass worth considering against the spread if offered as an underdog; current odds were unavailable.

Wait for a high total before considering the under

Consider the under only at a substantially higher total; UMass's opener totaled 131 points and BC's 126, with one game of evidence per team.

Avoid a pregame moneyline commitment without a price

Wait for reliable posted prices before choosing a moneyline side rather than relying on the teams' opening-game wins.