The Western Carolina Catamounts and the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs meet Saturday in college basketball action from Paul Porter Arena. The Catamounts are 3-3 this year and fresh off a win over Longwood. As for Gardner-Webb, they’re 2-3 and beat Columbia International in their last game. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
Western Carolina posted a solid 79-71 win over Bowling Green in their opener this year. The Catamounts hit a three-game losing streak to Wake Forest, East Carolina and UMBC, then eked out a one-point win over American.
The Catamounts got back over .500 again versus Longwood in their last game. Western Carolina outscored the opposition 35-26 in the second on the way to a 64-53 win. Vonterius Woolbright led the team on 16 points with 10 rebounds.
Over on the Gardner-Webb side, their first three games were all losses (and all tough matchups). The Bulldogs fell to UNLV 64-58, then Arkansas 86-69 and Duke 92-52. Gardner-Webb got their first win over Carver Bible College in game four.
On Wednesday against Columbia International, the Bulldogs pulled away with a 44-35 edge in the second half on the way to a 90-78 win. Gardner-Webb’s lead scorer Bryce Causey put up 18 points with one rebound and three steals in the victory.
Gardner-Webb is 1-5 ATS in their last six home games and 5-2 ATS in their last seven Saturday games. The Bulldogs are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games overall.
Meanwhile, the Catamounts are 6-14 ATS in their last 20 road games and 3-7 ATS in their last 10 after an ATS win. WCU is 9-20-1 ATS in their last 30 overall.
PICK: I’m going to stick with Western Carolina. The Catamounts are coming off something of a spotty shooting performance however, notching just 36.7 percent from the field against Longwood. Western Carolina secured their win thanks to 47 rebounds and 16 team assists. As for Gardner-Webb, they’ve looked good over their last two games against sub-par competition but will probably return to form here. So long as Western Carolina gets off to a good start I think they’ll be fine on a cover.