West Virginia vs. Maryland Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – NCAA Tournament Round First Round

March 13, 2023, by Andy Molitor College Basketball Predictions

The No. 9 West Virginia Mountaineers (19-14) and the No. 8 Maryland Terrapins (21-12) will meet on Thursday to compete for a spot in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. West Virginia is favored by 2.5 points in the opening round matchup, which begins at 12:15 PM on CBS. Here are the insights you need when filling out your bracket for this 8-9 matchup. The matchup has an over/under set at 137.5 points.

West Virginia vs. Maryland Odds

West Virginia odds to win: -143
Maryland odds to win: +120
Spread: West Virginia (-2.5)
Total: 137.5

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Game Time and Information

Date: Thursday, March 16, 2023
Time: 12:15 PM ET
TV: CBS
Where: Birmingham, Alabama
Venue: Legacy Arena at BJCC

Who Will Win West Virginia vs. Maryland?

West Virginia and Maryland Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

West Virginia is 12-5 against the spread when favored by 2.5 points or more this season.

When it has played as at least a 2.5-point underdog this year, Maryland is 4-3 against the spread.

These two teams average a combined 146.7 points per game, 9.2 more points than the total of 137.5 set for this matchup.

Opponents of these teams have averaged a combined 134.2 points per game, 3.3 fewer than the over/under in this game.

The average total West Virginia has had in its matchups this year is 9.8 more points than this particular game’s point total.

The average over/under for Terrapins games this season is 4.0 fewer points than the point total of 137.5 for this outing.

The Mountaineers have gone 17-16-0 ATS this season.

So far this season, the Terrapins have compiled a 20-12-1 record against the spread.

West Virginia Stats & Insights

West Virginia’s +174 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 5.3 points per game) is a result of scoring 76.3 points per game (70th in college basketball) while giving up 71.0 per contest (207th in college basketball).

West Virginia averages 31.5 rebounds per game (193rd in college basketball) while allowing 29.1 per outing to its opponents. It outrebounds opponents by 2.4 boards per game.

The Mountaineers knock down 7.3 three-pointers per game (192nd in college basketball), while their opponents have made 6.5 on average.

West Virginia ranks 82nd in college basketball by averaging 97.5 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively is 152nd in college basketball, allowing 90.8 points per 100 possessions.

Offensively, the Mountaineers have performed better at home this season, scoring 79.4 points per game, compared to 71.6 per game in away games.

Maryland Stats & Insights

Maryland has a +238 scoring differential, topping opponents by 7.2 points per game. It is putting up 70.4 points per game, 202nd in college basketball, and is allowing 63.2 per contest to rank 25th in college basketball.

The 31.3 rebounds per game Maryland accumulates rank 211th in college basketball, 2.1 more than the 29.2 its opponents pull down.

Maryland knocks down 6.8 three-pointers per game (239th in college basketball), 1.3 more than its opponents. It shoots 33.0% from beyond the arc (241st in college basketball), and its opponents are shooting 32.1%.

Maryland ranks 85th in college basketball with 97.4 points scored per 100 possessions, and 71st defensively with 87.4 points conceded per 100 possessions.

At home the Terrapins are putting up 74.6 points per game, 12.1 more than they are averaging away (62.5).

West Virginia Key Players to Watch

Erik Stevenson leads the Mountaineers in scoring, tallying 15.5 points per game to go with 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

Tre Mitchell is West Virginia’s leading rebounder, pulling down 5.5 per game, while Kedrian Johnson is its best passer, distributing 3.2 assists in each contest.

Stevenson leads the Mountaineers in three-point shooting, making an average of 2.3 shots per game from beyond the arc.

Johnson and James Okonkwo lead West Virginia on the defensive end, with Johnson leading the team in steals averaging 1.8 per game and Okonkwo in blocks averaging 0.7 per contest.

Maryland Key Players to Watch

The Terrapins’ Jahmir Young averages enough points (16.1 per game) and assists (3.2 per game) to sit atop the squad’s leaderboards.

Julian Reese grabs 7.3 rebounds per game (he also scores 11.2 points per game and adds 1.0 assist per game) which puts him at the top of the Maryland rebounding leaderboard.

Don Carey is the top shooter from distance for the Terrapins, hitting 1.6 threes per game.

Young (1.3 steals per game) is the steal leader for Maryland while Reese (1.2 blocks per game) is the block leader.