Furman vs. Western Carolina SoCon Tournament Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Sunday, March 5, 2023

The No. 1 seed Furman Paladins (25-7, 15-3 SoCon) are favored by 12.5 points when they face off the No. 4 seed Western Carolina Catamounts (18-14, 10-8 SoCon) in the SoCon Tournament Sunday at Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville, tipping off at 4:00 PM on ESPNU. A guaranteed spot in the NCAA Tournament bracket is on the line as these teams look to claim the SoCon championship. The matchup has an over/under of 149.5.

Furman vs. Western Carolina Odds

• Furman odds to win: -809
• Western Carolina odds to win: +554
• Spread: Furman (-12.5)
• Total: 149.5

Furman vs. Western Carolina Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• Date: Sunday, March 5, 2023
• Time: 4:00 PM ET
• TV: ESPNU
• Where: Asheville, North Carolina
• Venue: Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville

Who Will Win Furman vs. Western Carolina?

Furman and Western Carolina Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

In games it has played as at least 12.5-point favorites this season, Furman is 5-4 against the spread.

When it has played as at least a 12.5-point underdog this year, Western Carolina is 2-1-1 against the spread.

Between them, these two teams average 6.7 more points per game (156.2) than this game’s over/under (149.5).

Furman and Western Carolina have seen their opponents average a combined 8.3 fewer points per game than the over/under of 149.5 set in this matchup.

Furman’s average total in matchups this year has been 152.6, 3.1 points higher than the over/under in this particular game.

Catamounts games this year have averaged a total of 144.8 points, 4.7 fewer than the point total in this matchup.

The Paladins have a 17-12-0 record against the spread this season.

The Catamounts have a 17-13-1 record against the spread this season.

Furman Stats & Insights

Furman averages 81.9 points per game (11th in college basketball) while allowing 70.7 per contest (200th in college basketball). It has a +358 scoring differential overall and outscores opponents by 11.2 points per game.

Furman records 32.9 rebounds per game (108th in college basketball) while conceding 29.6 per contest to its opponents. It outrebounds opponents by 3.3 boards per game.

The Paladins knock down 9.7 three-pointers per game (14th in college basketball) while shooting 35.2% from beyond the arc (127th in college basketball). They are making 2.8 more threes per contest than their opponents, who drain 6.9 per game while shooting 33.7%.

Furman scores 105.4 points per 100 possessions (fifth in college basketball), while giving up 91 points per 100 possessions (163rd in college basketball).

At home, the Paladins are putting up nine more points per game (86.5) than they are in road games (77.5).

Western Carolina Stats & Insights

Western Carolina puts up 74.3 points per game (119th in college basketball) while giving up 70.5 per contest (190th in college basketball). It has a +120 scoring differential and outscores opponents by 3.8 points per game.

Western Carolina grabs 33.4 rebounds per game (84th in college basketball) while conceding 31.8 per contest to opponents. It outrebounds opponents by 1.6 boards per game.

Western Carolina makes 8.8 three-pointers per game (43rd in college basketball) at a 34.8% rate (154th in college basketball), compared to the 5.7 per game its opponents make, at a 33% rate.

Western Carolina averages 96.3 points per 100 possessions on offense (113th in college basketball), and gives up 91.4 points per 100 possessions (175th in college basketball).

At home, the Catamounts score 78.9 points per game. Away, they score 67.7.

Furman Key Players to Watch

The Paladins scoring leader is Mike Bothwell, who averages 17.8 per contest to go with 3.5 rebounds and three assists.

Furman’s leading rebounder is Jalen Slawson averaging 7.2 boards per game and its best passer is JP Pegues and his four assists per game.

The Paladins get the most three-point shooting production out of Pegues, who knocks down 1.9 threes per game.

The Furman leader in both steals and blocks is Slawson, who averages 1.7 takeaways and 1.5 rejections per game.

Western Carolina Key Players to Watch

Tre Jackson averages 15.8 points per game and is the top scorer for the Catamounts.

Tyzhaun Claude puts up a stat line of 8.5 rebounds, 15.4 points and 0.6 assists per game for Western Carolina to take the top rebound spot on the team. Vonterius Woolbright has the top spot for assists with five per game, adding 14.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per matchup.

Jackson makes 3.5 three-pointers per game, the most on the Catamounts.

Western Carolina’s leader in steals is Russell Jones with 1.6 per game, and its leader in blocks is Claude with 0.9 per game.

Furman vs. Western Carolina Prediction

• Pick ATS:

  Western Carolina (+12.5)
  

• Pick OU:

  Under (149.5)
  

• Prediction:
  Furman 79, Western Carolina 68

How to Bet on Furman vs. Western Carolina

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