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The Sacred Heart Pioneers will look to break out of a five-game losing streak when they take on the visiting Holy Cross Crusaders in a non-conference matchup on Thursday morning. The Crusaders (3-9), who are 1-3 in December, are 0-4 on the road this season. The Pioneers (5-8), who have yet to win this month, are 2-2 on their home floor. Holy Cross has won 10 of the previous 16 meetings with Sacred Heart.

The game from William H. Pitt Center in Fairfield, Con., tips off at 11:30 a.m. ET. Holy Cross is averaging 66.8 points per game, while Sacred Heart averages 70.7. The Pioneers are 7-point favorites in the latest Holy Cross vs. Sacred Heart odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 145.5. Before making any Sacred Heart vs. Holy Cross picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters Week 7 of the 2022-23 college basketball season on a strong 19-12 roll on all-top rated CBB picks, returning more than $200. Anybody who has followed it has seen profitable returns. 

Now, the model has set its sights on Sacred Heart vs. Holy Cross and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college basketball odds and betting lines for Holy Cross vs. Sacred Heart:

  • Holy Cross vs. Sacred Heart spread: Sacred Heart -7
  • Holy Cross vs. Sacred Heart over/under: 145 points
  • Holy Cross vs. Sacred Heart money line: Holy Cross +250, Sacred Heart -320
  • HC: The Over is 4-0 in the Crusaders' last four Thursday games
  • SH: The Over is 7-1 in the Pioneers' last eight home games
  • Holy Cross vs. Sacred Heart picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why Sacred Heart can cover

Senior guard Joey Reilly has reached double-figure scoring in seven games this season, including a 15-point performance in the Pioneers' last game, a 77-59 loss at Saint Joseph's. He had a season-high 23 points in a 77-70 win at Hartford on Nov. 8. For the season, Reilly is averaging 10.5 points, 1.8 assists, 1.7 rebounds and one steal per game. He is connecting on 46% of his field goals and is an 88% free-throw shooter.

Junior forward Bryce Johnson has registered four double-doubles on the season and has scored in double figures in five games. His best game this year was a 24-point, 13-rebound effort in a 90-81 loss at UMass Lowell on Nov. 16. He scored 11 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in a 71-64 loss at Stony Brook on Dec. 12. Johnson is averaging 9.5 points, eight rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

Why Holy Cross can cover 

Senior forward Gerrale Gates has reached double-digit scoring in all 11 games he's played in for the Crusaders in 2022-23. He has also registered four double-doubles, including a 17-point, 11-rebound performance in a 75-71 loss at Quinnipiac on Dec. 7. He scored a season-high 25 points in a 75-68 loss to Siena on Nov. 7. For the year, Gates is averaging a team-high 17.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.

Also providing the Holy Cross offense some spark is junior guard Bo Montgomery. He has played in all 12 of the Crusaders' games, averaging 11.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He has reached double-digit scoring in eight games, including a season-high 21 at No. 10 Creighton in a 94-65 loss on Nov. 14. He scored 17 points in a 95-61 win over Colby on Nov. 27.

How to make Holy Cross vs. Sacred Heart picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 139 combined points. It also says one side of the spread has all the value. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine

So who wins Sacred Heart vs. Holy Cross? And which side of the spread has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up more than $200 on its college basketball picks this season, and find out.