A Big East clash looms large on Saturday in Storrs. #6 UConn (23-2, 13-1) has its eyes set on another deep March Madness run. That means taking care of business against inferior competition. Georgetown (13-11, 5-8) has disappointed under head coach Ed Cooley. However, a strong finish to the season would go a long way towards earning trust from the Hoya faithful.
UConn enters tonight as 16.5-point favorites (-115) over Georgetown. The total is set at 136.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here’s a college basketball pick, preview and prediction for Saturday’s game between the Hoyas and Huskies.
Georgetown vs. UConn prediction, preview
It’s been a strange campaign to say the least for Georgetown. There have been some highs, such as a November victory over #20 Clemson. However, there have also been quite a few lows. The program has gone 5-8 in conference play, far from what fans expected heading into this season. It’s a painfully middle of the road unit, lacking any chance at an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
With that being said, the Hoyas are more than capable of playing up to their competition. They’ve lost by single-digits against quality teams such as Creighton, Villanova, and even UConn. Unsurprisingly, Georgetown’s season has culminated in a middling +9.73 net rating on KenPom. That places the school at 81st among all Division I programs.
A productive backcourt powers this offense. KJ Lewis (15.1 PPG) and Malik Mack (14.5 PPG) form one of the Big East’s better guard duos. Depth on the wings and inside the paint is somewhat lacking in comparison. Georgetown’s 51.1% rebounding percentage sits at 128th in the nation. To make matters worse, this group struggles to consistently make shots. The Hoyas have a 49.4% effective field goal percentage, second-worst in the conference.
It’s been a terrific return to form for UConn following a mediocre 2024-25 season. This year, Connecticut wields one of the nation’s most lethal rosters. A combination of youth, experience and overwhelming talent have carried the Huskies. Veterans Alex Karaban, Solo Ball, and Tarris Reed Jr. have formed one of college basketball’s most dangerous trios. In the backcourt, Braylon Mullins and team assist leader Silas Demary Jr. have also impressed. As a whole, UConn owns the sport’ eighth-best net rating (+20.0) on KenPom.
Other than a slip-up vs. #17 St. John’s, it’s been smooth sailing recently for Dan Hurley’s crew. The Huskies have reeled off 13 wins over their last 14 outings. When playing at home in Gampel Pavillion, the team has gone 12-1. That lone blemish was a four-point defeat against #1 Arizona, not exactly a bad loss.
As previously mentioned, these schools played a two-point game on January 17th. During that contest, Georgetown held UConn to 36% shooting from the field. While impressive, it’s difficult to see that level of defensive intensity coming through for a second straight meeting. In addition, the Hoyas lost despite shooting 45% from the field. That was due to their sloppy play, losing the turnover margin 13 to five. An opportunistic Huskies defense should be licking its chops on Saturday night.
Georgetown vs. UConn pick, best bet
I’m expecting a much better shooting performance from UConn in this rematch. However, a nearly 20-point spread does feel a bit generous. Even if you ignore the last meeting between these two, the Huskies have had some close calls. Connecticut has won by 12 points or less in five of their last eight home games. Georgetown is, if nothing else, proven in these spots. The Hoyas often struggle to earn a win, but they usually hang around long enough to make teams sweat. Something similar could be in the cards this evening.
