Canisius Golden Griffins vs Rider Broncs Picks and Predictions for Friday February 20 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 02/20/2026, 12:40 AM ET

The Canisius Golden Griffins travel to face the Rider Broncs on Friday, February 20, 2026, with tipoff set for 7:00 PM ET at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. The game will be streamed on ESPN+. At the time of this writing, the odds were not released. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for additional expert selections and daily betting insight.

Canisius Golden Griffins Searching for Answers in MAAC Play

Canisius enters this matchup with an 8-19 overall record and a 3-13 mark in the MAAC. The Golden Griffins have struggled in conference action, recently losing to Manhattan 69-65, losing to Iona 69-63, losing to Quinnipiac 75-60, losing to Niagara 65-56, and losing to Siena 78-63. They are currently trying to snap a difficult stretch.

Offensively, Canisius averages 63.0 points per game while allowing 71.1. They shoot 40% from the field and grab 33.2 rebounds per game. The Golden Griffins also average 12.1 assists per contest along with 2.4 blocks and 5.0 steals per game.

The biggest issue for Canisius has been offensive efficiency. Shooting just 40% from the field and scoring 63.0 points per game makes it challenging to keep pace in conference matchups. When they fall behind early, it becomes difficult to recover.

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Rider Broncs Hoping to Capitalize at Home

Rider comes into this contest with a 3-22 overall record and a 2-14 mark in the MAAC. The Broncs have also endured a tough season, recently losing to Seton Hall 86-75, losing to Mount St. Mary’s 65-55, losing to Merrimack 73-47, losing to Marist 81-52, and winning over Saint Peter’s 81-78. They have had difficulty stringing together consistent performances.

The Broncs average 63.5 points per game while allowing 76.6. They shoot 40% from the floor and collect 35.4 rebounds per contest. Rider also averages 10.4 assists per game, along with 3.5 blocks and 5.4 steals.

Defense has been the major concern for Rider. Allowing 76.6 points per game puts pressure on an offense that is already limited. If they are unable to get stops, they are forced into a faster pace that does not always benefit them.

Canisius Golden Griffins vs Rider Broncs Pick

Canisius Golden Griffins vs Rider Broncs Spread Pick

Pick: Canisius Golden Griffins

Although both teams have struggled this season, Canisius has been slightly more competitive overall and allows fewer points per game than Rider. The Broncs’ defensive issues give the Golden Griffins an opportunity to control the tempo and find scoring opportunities. I lean toward Canisius to cover in what should be a tight contest.

Canisius Golden Griffins vs Rider Broncs Total Pick

Pick: Under

I expect this to be a lower-scoring MAAC matchup. Both teams average just over 63 points per game and shoot 40% from the field. I don’t see this game turning into a high-scoring affair. With both offenses struggling to find rhythm consistently, I’m backing the under here.

Final Score Prediction: Canisius 67, Rider 62

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