Sam Houston State vs Abilene Christian Pick – Basketball Predictions & Odds 3/3/23
Abilene Christian Wildcats (13-15) vs. Sam Houston State Bearkats (23-6)
March 3, 2023 7:30 pm EDT
The Line: Sam Houston State Bearkats -9.5 / Abilene Christian Wildcats +9.5 ; Over/Under: 136.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Abilene Christian Wildcats and the Sam Houston State Bearkats meet Friday in college basketball action from Johnson Coliseum. Abilene Christian is currently 13-15 overall this year. The Wildcats lost to Utah Valley back on Saturday. As for Sam Houston, they played Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday. In that matchup the Bearkats powered out a five-point victory. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
Abilene Christian Wildcats
Abilene Christian opened up the year on a .500 run, going 10-10 through 20 games. The Wildcats are just 3-5 in their last eight games however, falling to Grand Canyon, Sam Houston, Grand Canyon again, Stephen F. Austin and Utah Valley in that stretch.
On Saturday versus Utah Valley, the Wildcats were up 31-28 by halftime. Abilene Christian posted a 38-31 deficit from there and lost 66-62. Leading team scorers Airion Simmons and Immanuel Allen each managed 13 points.
Sam Houston Bearkats
Over on the Sam Houston State side, they managed a 16-5 stretch in their first 21 games of the year. The Bearkats hit a nice 6-1 stretch over the next seven, beating UTRGV, Abilene Christian, TX-Arlington, Tarleton State, Cal Baptist and Southern Utah.
On Wednesday versus Stephen F. Austin, the Bearkats scored 27 points in the first half, 27 in the second half and 10 in overtime for a tense 64-59 victory. Leading team scorer Damon Nicholas put up 15 points with eight rebounds and Donte Powers added 14 points.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably stay with Sam Houston. The Bearkats are on a nice six-game win streak right now, and they’ve held opponents to 62 or fewer points in each of those outings. The streak started with a win over Abilene Christian 77-62 back on February 11 at Moody Coliseum. Sam Houston State posted a 40-30 second-half advantage in that one and had four different players in double-digit points. The Wildcats have lost four straight themselves (along with two forfeits by New Mexico State) and they’ve got 62 points in two of those. I don’t see Abilene Christian generating enough offense to break through the Bearkats’ defense here.
