New Orleans vs. Mount St. Mary’s Pick
March Madness kicks off tonight at 6:40PM ET when No. 16 New Orleans meets No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s in the East Region.
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, New Orleans is slightly favored in this contest, as it is getting odds of -1.5 points against Mount St. Mary’s. The over/under total for the game is listed at 131 points. These two are both 16 seeds and taking part in the play-in game from University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio.
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New Orleans went 20-11 this season and it won the Southland Conference Tournament. The Privateers had just three lined games this season and went 2-1 against the spread. UNO is averaging 70.8 points per game this season while allowing 69.4 on defense. Erik Thomas has led the team with 19.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while Christavious Gill is adding 11.6 points per contest.
Mount St. Mary’s is 19-15 on the season and the tournament winner out of the NEC Conference. The Mountaineers were in just six lined games during the season, going 3-3 against the spread. MSM averaged 68.3 points per game on offense while allowing 68.6 on defense. Elijah Long is leading the team with 15.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game to lead the team while Junior Robinson is adding 14.1 points per game.
If New Orleans is going to win, it is going to win inside. The Privateers shoot just 31 percent from 3-point land, so they will have to attack the paint. That should be okay against the Mountaineers, who get out-rebounded by nearly 7 boards per game. St. Mary’s could get hot tonight, but I don’t like to trust teams that have to win with the long ball. I am going to go with New Orleans.
MARCH MADNESS PREDICTION: NEW ORLEANS -1.5