On Friday night, the Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin State University take on the West Virginia Mountaineers in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The Lumberjacks (27-5) are the champions of the Southland Conference and hold the #14 seed in the East region. The Mountaineers (26-8) hold the #3 seed. West Virginia heads in as favorites in the betting spread for March Madness.
Stephen F. Austin vs West Virginia NCAAB Odds Preview and Game Info
What: Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (27-5) at West Virginia Mountaineers (26-8)
When: Friday, March 18, 2016
Start Time: 7:10 PM ET
Where: Brooklyn, New York
Stadium: Barclays Center
Spread: West Virginia -7
Moneyline: West Virginia -350
Game Total: 147
Watch: TNT
Stream: TNT SportsRadio: West Virginia
Why Should You Bet on the Lumberjacks?
Stephen F. Austin plays the same defensive style as West Virginia — an all out press followed by a 1-3-1 zone. They rode this approach to a dominant season. They are 59-1 in Southland Conference play over the last three seasons, including three straight wins in the conference tournament. IN the conference this season, they had 15 by at least 20 points. That’s quite a season of dominance. Sure, the NCAA tournament has a much tougher field than the Southland Conference, but that is sustained control of an entire conference.
Why Should You Put Your Money on West Virginia?
West Virginia wreaks havoc in two ways: first, in their full-court press that sags back into a 1-3-1, a zone that also relies on pressure and trapping to create turnovers, and second, in their vigorous attacks on the offensive glass. A lot of teams are glad to drop back and play defense after hoisting a shot, but the Mountaineers are committed to putting bodies on the boards and pulling down the rebound. The Lumberjacks don’t have a lot of size inside and don’t box out all that well. Also, SFA played a Big 12 team in the Baylor Bears, and ended up taking a 42-point drubbing.
Expert Betting Pick and Final Score Prediction
Some of the experts are picking the Lumberjacks to pull up an upset along the lines of the ones they managed in 2013 when they upset VCU in the first round of the Big Dance. However, I think West Virginia will be able to outplay the Lumberjacks at their own defensive game and will control this game — and will cover, with a final score of 77-66.
