Monday College Basketball Betting Odds & Picks: Loyola vs. BU, Bethune Cookman vs. Morgan State

Small schools are usually on display to start the week in college basketball, and this Monday brings us a chance to watch two of the top teams in the Patriot League and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Let's take a look at Boston University going to Loyola Maryland, and Bethune Cookman hosting Morgan State.

Monday College Basketball Odds & Picks

Odds as of Monday at 8 a.m. ET and via PointsBet, where Action Network users can access an exclusive promotion to get a 200% deposit match (deposit $50, bet with $150).No strings attached. No rollover required.

Loyola (MD) vs. Boston University

• Spread: Boston University -3.5
• Over/Under: 143
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• TV: CBS Sports Network

Boston University is enjoying something it lacked the past two seasons:  health.

The Terriers lost guard Walter Whyte (13.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg) for his entire sophomore season and the end of his freshman season with an ankle injury. Whyte, along with senior forward Max Mahoney (15.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg) lead a Terriers offense that ranks 41st overall in 2P%. They also rank in the Top 50 with only 11.7 offensive turnovers per game.

The Terriers' only loss in the past seven games was at American, where Mahoney got into uncharacteristic foul trouble. The senior only averages 2.3 fouls per game on the season.

Meanwhile, the Greyhounds struggle defensively having allowed four of their past five opponents to reach 78 points or more. Loyola ranks 282 in adjusted defensive efficiency and 264th in 3P% defense allowed.

More importantly, the Greyhounds are experiencing the injury issues that haunted Boston University last year.

Loyola played without six players in Saturday's 65-62 home loss to Lafayette, including leading scorer Andrew Kostecka (21.4 ppg), and guard Cam Johnson (9.9 ppg), who has missed the last three games.  Overall this season, Loyola players have missed a combined 54 games due to injury.

This line has jumped from a PK to Boston University -3.5. I would have liked BU even if Kostecka played, but with all the injuries and the Terriers' hot play, I'm giving the 3.5 on the road in this Patriot League battle.

I would take this line up to -4.5.

THE PICK:  Boston University -3.5

Bethune Cookman vs. Morgan State

• Spread: Bethune Cookman -5
• Over/Under: 150
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Bethune Cookman (8-9) is one of the favorites in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Wildcats have won their last two conference games after losing at Norfolk State in their MEAC opener.  They are 7-7 against the spread but have covered three of their past four road games.

Morgan State (8-10) is playing its second consecutive conference road game after losing 77-68 at Florida A&M. The Bears are 8-7 ATS including 2-4 in their last six road games.

Bethune Cookman has the MEAC preseason Player of the Year in Cletrell Pope (13.8 ppg, 11.8 rpg). Pope has three double-doubles in the Wildcats' last four games, including a monster 28-point, 15-rebound performance at Howard.

Bethune Cookman is one of the top teams in the country at forcing turnovers  (15.9 per game) and also one of the best at limiting offensive turnovers (18% offensive turnover margin).

Morgan State is one of the poorest metric teams in the nation, ranking 251st in adjusted offensive efficiency and 325th in adjusted defensive efficiency. The Bears also only shoot 28% from 3P as a team, while Bethune Cookman holds opponents to 29.1% from 3P (33rd nationally).

I'm taking Bethune Cookman at home giving the five points. The Wildcats are the better team, with the best player on the floor, and have played superior competition.

Both teams are fast-paced, but the Wildcats have a much more impressive resume with close losses at Georgia Tech (3 points), at UCF (5), and at Saint Louis (10).

I would bet this line up to Bethune Cookman -6.

THE PICK:  Bethune Cookman -6