Rider vs Merrimack Prediction 2/28/25 College Basketball Picks

The Rider Broncs and the Merrimack Warriors meet Friday in college basketball action from Lawler Arena. Here’s a Rider vs Merrimack prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Rider vs Merrimack pick. We will examine: 

The Rider Broncs’ recent form and player performance

The Merrimack Warriors’ recent form and player performance 

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Rider Broncs

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Merrimack Warriors

Recent betting trends in games played between Rider and Merrimack

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Rider vs Merrimack game

Rider Broncs Betting Preview

The Broncs have had a couple of brief runs so far this year but overall they’re struggling in the record column. Rider opened on a 4-2 record over their first half-dozen outings, then lost to Villanova, Delaware, Fairfield, Quinnipiac, Stony Brook, Penn, NC State, Manhattan, and Canisius. After wins over Niagara, Mount St. Mary’s, and Marist in the next three games, the Broncs hit a 3-7 stretch over the next 10 outings. Those wins came versus Saint Peter’s, Siena and Iona. Otherwise, it was losses to Iona, Quinnipiac, Merrimack, Sacred Heart, Saint Peter’s, Fairfield, and Mount St. Mary’s at that time. The result so far has been a rough 10-18 overall run through 28 games for the Broncs. 

In the Mount St. Mary’s road game on Sunday, the Broncs came out of halftime with a 34-30 deficit. Rider didn’t end up getting any closer on a 45-42 second half and took the loss in the end 79-72. Leading the team in scoring was TJ Weeks with 18 points, five boards, and three steals. Tariq Ingraham doubled up on 15 points with 11 rebounds and two assists, while Zion Cruz added 13 points with three rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes of work. 

Merrimack Warriors Betting Preview

Over on the Merrimack side, they’ve had a pretty sketchy run this year themselves. So far the Warriors have managed to keep their heads above the .500 mark, though. Merrimack lost six of their first seven games, then hit wins over Troy, Canisius, Niagara, and Boston U before two more losses to Stanford and Mount St. Mary’s. A 9-2 stretch came next with losses to Quinnipiac and Mount St. Mary’s among wins over Fairfield, Sacred Heart, Manhattan, Siena, Saint Peter’s, Fairfield, Rider, Niagara, and Canisius. Following three more losses to Manhattan, Marist, and Sacred Heart, the Warriors took an OT win versus Iona. That would give Merrimack a 15-13 overall run so far through the first 28 games of the year. 

Matched up against Iona on the road Sunday, the Warriors came out of the first half with a 33-29 deficit. Merrimack managed to force overtime with a 31-27 second half and ended up taking the win 77-70. Adam Clark led the team with 27 points, eight boards, and seven assists. Devon Savage added 12 points with three boards in 29 minutes, while Tye Dorset chipped in 12 points with two assists and two steals in 28 minutes off the bench. Matt Becht added eight points with three assists in 29 minutes of action as well. 

Rider vs Merrimack Prediction 

I’ll stick with Merrimack. The Warriors had a bit of trouble putting away Iona in a road matchup during their last outing but everything worked out well in the end. Merrimack shot 44.6 percent from the field in that one but did get out-rebounded 45-32 and had 12 turnovers for 12 Gaels points. Still, it was a much-needed win after a three-game skid. Merrimack had been below 61 points in each of the two previous outings as well. 

The last time these teams saw each other, the Warriors pulled off a 66-64 road win on February 2. This one’s probably going to be close as well, but if Merrimack can get the offense going early I think they’ll do just fine.