Lafayette vs American Pick – Basketball Predictions & Odds 3/5/23

The American Eagles and Lafayette Leopards meet Sunday in the college basketball Patriot Tournament at the Kirby Sports Center. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

The American Eagles are averaging 65.6 points on 48.6 percent shooting and allowing 66.1 points on 45.4 percent shooting. Matt Rogers is averaging 13.8 points and 6 rebounds, while Johnny O’Neil is averaging 11.2 points and 1.3 assists. Colin Smalls is dishing 1.3 assists and Elijah Stephens is grabbing 2 rebounds. The American Eagles are shooting 34.4 percent from beyond the arc and 70.4 percent from the free throw line. The American Eagles are allowing 37.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 27.8 rebounds per game.

The Lafayette Leopards are averaging 61.4 points on 40.7 percent shooting and allowing 64.9 points on 43.9 percent shooting. Leo O’Boyle is averaging 11.4 points and 3.5 rebounds, while Josh Rivera is averaging 10.5 points and 5.1 rebounds. CJ Fulton is the third double-digit scorer and Kyle Jenkins is grabbing 5.7 rebounds. The Lafayette Leopards are shooting 32.7 percent from beyond the arc and 61 percent from the free throw line. The Lafayette Leopards are allowing 34.1 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 29.1 rebounds per game.

The Eagles are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games overall. The Leopards are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games. The under is 5-1 in Eagles last 6 overall. The over is 7-1 in Leopards last 8 overall.

Neither team is playing great ball right now, and they’ve been subpar overall this season. The difference is the American Eagles have been the better team, no matter how you slice it, and the fact we’re getting them in the underdog role feels strange. I’ll take my chances with American and the free bucket.