Fairfield vs. Manhattan
Free Pick: Fairfield -1 -110 odds
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With Siena having the locked up the MAAC regular season title, the rest of the conference is now concerned about seedings and playing the Saints and the absolute last possible time in the conference tournament. One of those teams vying for second place which would mean not facing Siena until the championship game is Fairfield. The Stags enter this game a half-game behind Iona for second place in the conference so they need this win to keep pace with two games remaining following this contest. One of those games is at home against Iona and then the Stags close out the season with a home game against disappointing Niagara. The schedule sets up very well for Fairfield to lock down that number two seed which comes with a bye on top of not seeing the number one seed until championship Monday. The Stags have actually been the most impressive against Siena this season as of its 15 conference wins, only five have comes by single digits and two of those were against Fairfield. The Stags lost by eight points at home and then by only two points at Siena on February 8th. The Stags are 7-6 on the road this season including an overtime win at Rider on Friday. Manhattan has had another disappointing season as it is just 9-16 overall including 4-11 in the conference. The Jaspers have been involved in some tight losses this season so the record definitely could be better but the fact that they are only 2-5 at home in the conference is reason to keep fading. Teams that cannot win close games are not suddenly going to start doing so and this one does have the look of being that close to begin with. Overall Manhattan is 5-6 at home on the season with three of those wins coming against N.J.I.T., Fordham and Marist and those three teams are ranked 337th, 292nd and 329th respectively in the power rankings and 333rd, 296th and 334th respectively in the latest RPI. It is no wonder the Japers are 208th and 221st in power rankings and RPI respectively. Manhattan lost to the Stags in Fairfield by just three points in the first meeting this season and while that means revenge is in play, it will not be a big factor here for a struggling team that has no home court advantage to speak of. This Fairfield team knows exactly about adversity as it won 17 games last season battling injuries and suspensions to key players and this season is no different. Forwards Warren Edney and Greg Nero, who came in as projected starters, have not played a single game this season while another forward, Yorel Hawkins, was lost for the season three games ago with a knee injury. Last season’s experiences in almost similar fashion are playing dividends this year as proven by the strong season the Stags are having. Fairfield is on a 23-10 ATS run in its road games including an 8-3 ATS mark in road games this season. The Stags have covered four straight as a road chalk while the Jaspers are 0-4 ATS in their last four games following an ATS win and they are 8-17 ATS in their last 25 home games coming off a game played on the road. 3* Fairfield Stags