Southern vs. Alabama A&M SWAC Tournament Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 9, 2023

The No. 4 seed Southern Jaguars (15-16, 11-7 SWAC) are favored by 4 points when they face off the No. 5 seed Alabama A&M Bulldogs (14-17, 10-8 SWAC) in the SWAC Tournament. The teams will look to take another step toward an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament bracket on Thursday at Bartow Arena beginning at 9:30 PM and airing on ESPN+. The matchup’s over/under is set at 136.

Southern vs. Alabama A&M Odds

• Southern odds to win: -195
• Alabama A&M odds to win: +165
• Spread: Southern (-4)
• Total: 136

Southern vs. Alabama A&M Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• Date: Thursday, March 9, 2023
• Time: 9:30 PM ET
• TV: ESPN+
• Where: Birmingham, Alabama
• Venue: Bartow Arena

Who Will Win Southern vs. Alabama A&M?

Southern and Alabama A&M Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

Southern has a 7-8 record against the spread in games it was favored by 4 points or more this season.

Alabama A&M is 7-7 against the spread when an underdog by 4 points or more this season.

The two teams average a combined 5.8 more points per game (141.8) than this matchup’s total of 136 points.

Opponents of the two teams average a combined 6.2 more points per game (142.2) than this matchup’s over/under of 136 points.

Southern’s average point total in outings this season is 143.2, 7.2 points higher than the over/under in this game.

The average total in Bulldogs games this season is 4.7 more points than the point total of 136 in this outing.

So far this season, the Jaguars have compiled a 17-12-0 record against the spread.

So far this season, the Bulldogs have put together a 13-14-0 record against the spread.

Southern Stats & Insights

Southern has a +34 scoring differential, topping opponents by 1.1 points per game. It is putting up 72.2 points per game to rank 167th in college basketball and is allowing 71.1 per outing to rank 209th in college basketball.

Southern comes up short in the rebound battle by an average of 2.5 boards. It is collecting 30.7 rebounds per game (247th in college basketball) compared to its opponents’ 33.2 per outing.

The Jaguars connect on 7.7 three-pointers per game (140th in college basketball), while their opponents have made 7.5 on average.

Southern ranks 271st in college basketball by averaging 90.1 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively is 102nd in college basketball, allowing 88.7 points per 100 possessions.

Offensively, the Jaguars have fared better at home this year, scoring 82.5 points per game, compared to 65.4 per game away from home.

Alabama A&M Stats & Insights

Alabama A&M’s -44 scoring differential (being outscored by 1.5 points per game) is a result of putting up 69.6 points per game (227th in college basketball) while giving up 71.1 per contest (209th in college basketball).

Alabama A&M pulls down 29.5 rebounds per game (299th in college basketball) while allowing 32.5 per outing to opponents. It is outrebounded by 3.0 boards per game.

Alabama A&M makes 6.9 three-pointers per game (232nd in college basketball), while its opponents have made 7.8 on average.

Alabama A&M averages 88.2 points per 100 possessions (306th in college basketball), while giving up 90.0 points per 100 possessions (131st in college basketball).

At home the Bulldogs are putting up 72.8 points per game, 8.3 more than they are averaging away (64.5).

Southern Key Players to Watch

The scoring leader for the Jaguars this season is Brion Whitley, who averages 11.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game.

Terrell Williams Jr. leads Southern in rebounding, averaging 4.2 per game, while P.J. Byrd leads the team in assists, distributing an average of 5.6 in each contest.

Whitley makes more threes per game than any other member of the Jaguars, knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a clip of 2.2 per contest.

Bryson Etienne and Jalen Reynolds lead Southern on the defensive end, with Etienne leading the team in steals averaging 1.6 per game and Reynolds in blocks averaging 0.5 per contest.

Alabama A&M Key Players to Watch

Garrett Hicks puts up 13.1 points per game to be the top scorer for the Bulldogs.

The Alabama A&M leaders in rebounding and assists are Olisa Akonobi with 5.6 rebounds per game (he also adds 7.8 points and 0.3 assists per game) and Messiah Thompson with 3.2 assists per game (he also tacks on 10.3 points and 1.9 rebounds per game).

Hicks is the top scorer from deep for the Bulldogs, hitting 2.1 threes per game.

Hicks (1.7 steals per game) is the steal leader for Alabama A&M while Akonobi (1.9 blocks per game) is the block leader.

Southern vs. Alabama A&M Prediction

• Pick ATS:

  Alabama A&M (+4)
  

• Pick OU:

  Over (136)
  

• Prediction:
  Southern 71, Alabama A&M 69

How to Bet on Southern vs. Alabama A&M

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