First Four Predictions: Norfolk State vs Appalachian State 3/18/21 College Basketball Picks, Odds, Predictions
First Four Predictions: Norfolk State vs Appalachian State 3/18/21 College Basketball Picks, Odds, Predictions
2021-03-18 20:40:00 EDT
The Norfolk State Spartans face off with the Appalachian State Mountaineers in a NCAA tournament first four matchup in college basketball action from the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Thursday night.
The Norfolk State Spartans come into this one as the champions of the MEAC, taking down North Carolina Central and Morgan State on the way to the conference tournament title. Devante Carter leads the Spartans in scoring, rebounding and assists with 15.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG and 4 APG while Joe Bryant Jr. has 11.6 PPG including averaging 23.5 PPG in the two conference tournament games for Norfolk State this season. As a team, Norfolk State is averaging 74.9 PPG on 43.5% shooting from the field and 36.4% from three while allowing 70 PPG on 40.9% from the field and 32.3% from three this season.
The Appalachian State Mountaineers come in representing the Sun Belt conference after picking up the conference championship with wins over Little Rock, Texas State, Coastal Carolina and Georgia State on the way to the title. Adrian Delph leads App State in scoring with 13.2 PPG along with 4.5 RPG while Justin Forrest has 13 PPG with 2.6 APG and Michael Almonacy has 12.9 PPG with a team-high 2.9 APG to lead App State in assists this season. Donovan Gregory also has 10.7 PPG with team-highs of 6 RPG and 1.9 steals per game to make up the group of double-digit scorers for Appalachian State this season. Kendall Lewis is also chipping in 9.9 PPG and 4.1 RPG for the Mountaineers this season. As a team, Appalachian State is averaging 70.8 PPG on 42.1% shooting from the field and 31.2% from three while allowing 64.1 PPG on 42.3% shooting from the field and 32.4% from three this season.
Norfolk State is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall and 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games while the under is 4-1 in their last 5 games as an underdog. Appalachian State is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall and 5-0 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games while the under is 4-0 in their last 4 games as a favorite.
Make no mistake, while Appalachian State was involved in a lot of high-scoring matchups, and Norfolk State could score their fair share as well, this is shaping up to be a defensive war. I honestly think this could be a game where the first to 60, maybe even 65 max, wins this game and I honestly see this game struggling to reach the total of 136, so give me the under here.
