Norfolk State vs. Howard MEAC Tournament Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Saturday, March 11, 2023

The MEAC championship will be decided Saturday as the No. 3 seed Norfolk State Spartans (22-10, 9-5 MEAC) play the No. 1 Howard Bison (21-12, 11-3 MEAC) at 1:00 PM, live on ESPN2. Norfolk State is listed as a 2-point favorite to win the contest and claim the conference title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament bracket. The matchup has a point total of 142.

Norfolk State vs. Howard Odds

• Norfolk State odds to win: -133
• Howard odds to win: +111
• Spread: Norfolk State (-2)
• Total: 142

Norfolk State vs. Howard Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• Date: Saturday, March 11, 2023
• Time: 1:00 PM ET
• TV: ESPN2
• Where: Norfolk, Virginia
• Venue: Norfolk Scope

Who Will Win Norfolk State vs. Howard?

Norfolk State and Howard Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

When it has played as at least 2-point favorites this season, Norfolk State is 10-8-1 against the spread.

Howard has an 8-6 record against the spread in games it was an underdog by 2 points or more this season.

These teams average a combined 152 points per game, 10 more points than the total of 142 set for this game.

Opponents of the two teams average a combined 1.1 fewer points per game (140.9) than this game’s over/under of 142 points.

The average over/under Norfolk State has had in its games this year is 2.9 more points than this particular game’s point total.

The average point total for the Bison this season is six points higher than this game’s over/under.

The Spartans have a 15-11-1 record against the spread this season.

The Bison have a 17-13-0 record against the spread this season.

Norfolk State Stats & Insights

Norfolk State’s +238 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 7.5 points per game) is a result of scoring 76.2 points per game (72nd in college basketball) while allowing 68.7 per contest (138th in college basketball).

Norfolk State ranks 88th in college basketball at 33.3 rebounds per game. That’s 5.1 more than the 28.2 its opponents average.

The Spartans knock down 6.9 three-pointers per game (230th in college basketball) at a 34.1% rate (181st in college basketball), compared to the 9.2 per outing their opponents make while shooting 34.8% from beyond the arc.

Norfolk State puts up 98.7 points per 100 possessions (57th in college basketball), while allowing 89 points per 100 possessions (108th in college basketball).

The Spartans score 82 points per game when playing at home, compared to 70.6 points per game away from home, a difference of 11.4 points per contest.

Howard Stats & Insights

Howard is outscoring opponents by 3.6 points per game, with a +119 scoring differential overall. It puts up 75.8 points per game (81st in college basketball) and allows 72.2 per contest (246th in college basketball).

Howard wins the rebound battle by an average of 3.3 boards. It grabs 32.5 rebounds per game (129th in college basketball) compared to its opponents’ 29.2.

Howard hits 8.1 three-pointers per game (93rd in college basketball) at a 37.9% rate (20th in college basketball), compared to the 7.3 its opponents make, shooting 34% from beyond the arc.

Howard ranks 201st in college basketball averaging 93.1 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively is 98th, allowing 88.7 points per 100 possessions.

The Bison score 82.9 points per game at home, and 69.1 away.

Norfolk State Key Players to Watch

The Spartans leader in points and assists is Joe Bryant Jr., who puts up 17.7 points per game along with 3.2 assists.

Kris Bankston is Norfolk State’s best rebounder, hauling in an average of 7.3 boards in each contest while scoring 14.5 points per game.

The Spartans get the most three-point shooting production out of Bryant, who makes 2.2 threes per game.

Bryant is Norfolk State’s leader in steals, averaging 1.7 steals per game, while Bankston leads them in blocks with 1.5 per contest.

Howard Key Players to Watch

Elijah Hawkins’ points (13.1 per game) and assists (5.9 per game) stat lines give him the top scoring and assists spots on the Bison’s leaderboards.

William Settle grabs 5.9 rebounds per game (he also scores 11.1 points per game and adds 1.2 assists per game) which puts him at the top of the Howard rebounding leaderboard.

Marcus Dockery is the top shooter from the three-point line for the Bison, hitting 2.2 threes per game.

Howard’s leader in steals is Hawkins with 1.8 per game, and its leader in blocks is Settle with 0.9 per game.

Norfolk State vs. Howard Prediction

• Pick ATS:

  Howard (+2)
  

• Pick OU:

  Over (142)
  

• Prediction:
  Norfolk State 74, Howard 73

How to Bet on Norfolk State vs. Howard

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