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Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
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These teams appear to be pretty evenly matched on paper. as both head into the play-in game on long winning streaks topped by a conference-tournament title. But I'll give a slight edge to Fairleigh Dickinson on a couple of fronts: The Knights appear to have better balance, as all five starters average in double figures. They have also proven they can be efficient in a winner-take-all setting, shooting 64 percent from the field and 90 percent from the free-throw line in the Northeast Conference title game. Play the small favorite.
The Panthers play fast on offense and pressure teams into quick shots. Fairleigh Dickinson shoots the three ball really well but if forced into quicker shots than normal, the Knights won't be as accurate. The Panthers love to drive to the basket for high-percentage shots, plus they draw a lot fouls. This could put a couple of FDU shooters in foul trouble. Last but not least, Prairie View A&M plays far better defense.
Both these teams come in on some kind of roll. Fairleigh Dickinson has won its last eight games (7-1 ATS) while Prairie View A&M has won its last 11 and covered the last six. The thing that stands out about Prairie View A&M is its rating being influenced in part by an 1-11 start when the Panthers were underdogs in 11 of them. They got beat up. But then they did the beating, winning 21 of their next 22. They're going to push the pace. Prairie View A&M is the play.
Byron Smith led Prairie View to a winning season for the first time in eight years. Smith is in his third year and his pressure defense and up-tempo offensive system have finally kicked in. The Panthers create turnovers and take the ball to the basket, earning a high number of free throws with the clock stopped. Fairleigh Dickinson got here by being a great shooting team. The Knights are 29th in effective field goal percentage and fifth in three-point percentage. FDU plays very little defense, ranking 295th nationally. Go Over.