Nothing says March Madness like a Wednesday morning sweat.
At 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, St. Bonaventure’s will matchup with La Salle University for a college basketball matchup fit for a few wagers as the Bonnies are 5.5-point favorites on theScore Bet.
The Bonnies have had a tough season, going 15-16, while La Salle has struggled even worse, going 9-22.
Still, the Bonnies are a bit better than their record suggests, as KenPom ranks them 159th in the nation, while FTN has them at No. 107, which is quite bullish relative to their W-L ledger.
La Salle is rated 225 (KenPom) and 219 (FTN), respectively.
The pre-noon tipoff will be broadcast on the USA Network with a national television audience.
St. Bonaventure vs. La Salle prediction, best bet
For the Bonnies, big man Frank Mitchell is the do-it-all forward for them, leading the team in rebounds and points.
He is complemented by star guards Darryl Simmons and Cayden Charles, each of whom averages in points in the mid-teens per game.
The Explorers will have a hard time guarding that tandem, though both teams are among the worst defensively in the country.
La Salle ranks 283rd in the country in field goal percentage allowed (46.1 percent), while the Bonnies come in at 274th (46 percent).
It’s a negligible difference, and both teams are in the same range in 3-point field goal percentage allowed.
KenPom gives La Salle a significant advantage in strength of schedule, lending some credence that they could be a live dog.
I certainly won’t be backing the favorite here and prefer a bet on La Salle during the second half, as they have a negative 6.5 margin of victory in the first halves of games – they consistently fall behind early.
Target the over 143.5 on BetRivers for today’s contest and watch two bad defensive teams struggle.
Betting on College Basketball?
The over is 19-11 in games involving the Bonnies, and La Salle’s defense is bad enough to help that over trend continue.
PREDICTION: Over 143.5 total points (-110, BetRivers)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he’s showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.
