George Washington, Mount St. Mary's, Illinois Earn Friday College Basketball Wins

Bettors Insider shares three winning college basketball picks for February 27 action.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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In a light Friday college basketball slate, Bettors Insider is backing George Washington, Mount St. Mary's, and Illinois to earn victories. George Washington is favored by 3 points at home against Dayton, while Mount St. Mary's is getting 3 points on the road against Sacred Heart. Illinois is catching 1.5 points in the first half at home against Michigan.

Why it matters

These three picks provide opportunities for sports bettors to capitalize on favorable matchups and trends as the college basketball season reaches its climax. George Washington, Mount St. Mary's, and Illinois all have statistical and situational edges that make them attractive options against the spread on Friday.

The details

For George Washington, the Colonials have the best scorer and rebounder on the court in Rafael Castro, who is averaging 15.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Dayton is also just 3-6 against the spread on the road this season. Mount St. Mary's has won 4 straight games and will be playing with revenge after losing to Sacred Heart earlier this year, while the Pioneers have struggled to cover spreads lately. Illinois is looking to bounce back at home after a tough loss at UCLA, and the Fighting Illini have key advantages in rebounding, offensive efficiency, and free throw shooting against Michigan.

  • The Dayton at George Washington game tips off at 7:00 PM Eastern Time on ESPN2.
  • The Mount St. Mary's at Sacred Heart game tips off at 7:00 PM Eastern Time on ESPN+.
  • The Michigan at Illinois game tips off at 8:00 PM Eastern Time on FOX.

The players

Rafael Castro

The leading scorer and rebounder for George Washington, averaging 15.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.

Keaton Wagler

The leading scorer and assist man for Illinois, who will need a big game to lead the Fighting Illini to victory against Michigan's stingy defense.

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What they’re saying

“This is the mother of all letdown spots for Dayton, as they just pulled off a massive upset over St. Louis a few days ago. That's the kind of win where the whole team parties for two or three nights in a row. The Flyers are due for some regression against a tough GW team tonight.”

— Mike Noblin, Sports Betting Analyst (bettorsinsider.com)

“I was shocked to see this point spread balloon out to a full three points. Mount Saint Mary's has been hotter than wildfire lately, as they've won 4 in a row. The Mountaineers will also be playing with revenge on their minds after losing to Sacred Heart earlier this season.”

— Mike Noblin, Sports Betting Analyst (bettorsinsider.com)

What’s next

Bettors will want to monitor any late injury or lineup news that could impact these matchups before placing their wagers.

The takeaway

These three college basketball picks from Bettors Insider provide compelling value plays for sports bettors looking to capitalize on favorable trends and situational edges on Friday's light slate of games.