USC Upstate vs Western Carolina 12/4/21 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Western Carolina Catamounts and the South Carolina Upstate Spartans meet in college basketball action from the G.B. Hodge Center on Saturday evening.

The Western Carolina Catamounts come into this game looking to build on a 102-47 win over subdivision Warren Wilson last time out. Nicholas Robinson leads the Catamounts in scoring and rebounding with 14.3 PPG and 8.4 RPG as the lone double-digit scorer for Western Carolina up to this point in the season. Vontarius Woolbright has a team-high 4.9 APG as well on the year for Western Carolina while Travion McCray has 9.9 PPG and 4.9 RPG. As a team, Western Carolina is averaging 76.6 PPG on 42.9% shooting from the field, 37.9% from three and 62.3% from the foul line while allowing 76.3 PPG on 42.4% shooting from the field and 31.2% from three this season.

The South Carolina Upstate Spartans will look to bounce back from a 67-65 loss to NC Central last time out. Bryson Mozone leads the Spartans with 14.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 2.4 APG as the lone double-digit scorer for USC Upstate so far this season while Jordan Gainey has 9.4 PPG with 4.6 RPG as well. As a team, USC Upstate is averaging 69.6 PPG on 44.2% shooting from the field, 35.6% from three and 69.1% from the foul line while allowing 69.3 PPG on 39.9% shooting from the field and 28% from three this season.

Western Carolina is 9-21-1 ATS in their last 31 games overall and 6-15 ATS in their last 21 road games while the over is 5-1 in their last 6 games overall. South Carolina Upstate is 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games against a team with a losing road record while the over is 5-2 in their last 7 Saturday games.

Both teams are pretty much even on offense and defensive within their respective ranks, so I can understand the line being so tight. However, Western Carolina’s scoring seven points more per game than USC Upstate, and the Spartans haven’t had the same schedule that the Catamounts have. Sure, USC Upstate is 4-1-1 ATS, but it’s been a lot of catching big amounts of points and finding a way to cover. I think the Catamounts get a win and cover here so I’ll lay it and play it with Western Carolina here.