Jim Feist – Sports Handicapper

The Hampton Pirates (9-9, 1-2 CAA) are set to face the North Carolina A&T Aggies (4-15, 0-6 CAA) on Monday at Corbett Sports Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. Averaging 73.4 points per game, the Pirates are led by guard Noah Farrakhan, who contributes 13.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. Forward Kyrese Mullen adds a strong presence in the paint with 7.3 rebounds per game. The Aggies average 74.9 points per game, with guard Ryan Forrest leading the charge at 19.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Forward Nikolaos Chitikoudis anchors the defense with 9.2 rebounds per game. Hampton has experienced a mix of outcomes in their recent games, including a narrow 67-64 loss to William & Mary on January 16, 2025. North Carolina A&T is on a five-game losing streak, with their latest defeat being a 72-63 loss to Monmouth on January 16, 2025. In their last meeting on December 3, 2024, Hampton secured an 82-71 victory over North Carolina A&T. The Aggies will aim to leverage their home-court advantage to even the season series. Lay the points here on Monday with Hampton.

The Penn State Nittany Lions (12-6, 2-5 Big Ten) will host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (10-8, 3-4 Big Ten) on Monday at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pennsylvania. Averaging 84.4 points per game, Penn State is led by guard Adrian Baldwin Jr., who contributes 14.2 points and 8.1 assists per game. Forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser adds 12.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. The Scarlet Knights average 76.8 points per game, with freshman guard Dylan Harper leading the team at 20.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. Freshman forward Ace Bailey adds 19.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. The Nittany Lions are on a four-game losing streak, including a recent 82-81 loss to Oregon. The Scarlet Knights have won two consecutive games, with a notable 85-82 victory over Nebraska. In their last meeting on December 10, 2024, Rutgers secured an 80-76 victory over Penn State. I'll be laying the points at home here on Monday with Penn State.

The Georgetown Hoyas (12-6, 3-4 Big East) are set to face the Villanova Wildcats (12-7, 5-3 Big East) on Monday at 6:00 PM ET at The William B. Finneran Pavilion in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Averaging 76.7 points per game, the Hoyas are led by freshman forward-center Thomas Sorber, who contributes 15.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. Guard Micah Peavy adds 13.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. The Wildcats average 78.4 points per game, with forward Eric Dixon leading the nation in scoring at 25.7 points per game, along with 6.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists. Guard Wooga Poplar contributes 14.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. The Hoyas recently snapped a five-game losing streak with a 60-48 victory over Providence. Prior to that, they suffered losses to DePaul, St. John's, Butler, and Connecticut. The Wildcats have won three consecutive games, including a 66-64 win over St. John's, a 75-73 victory against Providence, and a 66-55 triumph over DePaul. In their last meeting on February 27, 2024, Villanova secured a 75-47 victory over Georgetown. Georgetown should show much better here tonight then they did in their last game vs the Cats. I'll take the points here tonight. Play Georgetown.

The 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship features a compelling matchup between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, set to kick off on Monday, January 20, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Ohio State Buckeyes (13-2) were 10-2 during the regular season, with losses to Oregon and Michigan. The Buckeyes secured the eighth seed in the playoff. They showcased resilience by defeating Tennessee (42-17), avenging their earlier loss to Oregon (41-21), and overcoming Texas (28-14) to earn their spot in the championship game. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (14-1) began their season with a shocking loss to Northern Illinois but rebounded impressively with a 13-game winning streak. Entering the playoff as the seventh seed, they triumphed over Indiana (27-17), upset Georgia (23-10), and edged out Penn State (27-24) to reach the title game. Notre Dame averages 210.8 rushing yards per game, led by quarterback Riley Leonard and running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Ohio State's defense, however, ranks third nationally against the run, allowing just 89.9 yards per game. The battle in the trenches will be pivotal. Both quarterbacks transferred to their respective programs and have been instrumental in their teams' successes. Leonard, formerly of Duke, brings dual-threat capabilities, while Howard, from Kansas State, has set career highs in passing metrics. Their performances under pressure will significantly influence the game's outcome. Notre Dame's head coach, Marcus Freeman, a former Ohio State player, seeks to lead the Fighting Irish to their first national title since 1988. His intimate knowledge of the Buckeyes adds an intriguing layer to the coaching dynamics of this championship game. Ohio State enters the game as an 8.5-point favorite. The Buckeyes boast the nation's top defense, allowing just 12.2 points per game, while Notre Dame's defense ranks second, conceding 14.3 points per game. Both teams have demonstrated offensive prowess, with Ohio State averaging 35.8 points per game and Notre Dame averaging 37. The matchup is expected to be a closely contested battle between two storied programs. With the two best defensive teams in the nation, I'll be on the UNDER here on Monday.