LIU vs Sacred Heart 3/2/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Sacred Heart Pioneers and the LIU Sharks meet in college basketball action from the Steinberg Wellness Center on Wednesday night.

The Sacred Heart Pioneers come into the conference tournament as the #6 seed after finishing at 10-19 overall including 6-12 in conference play after an 80-68 win over Saint Francis (PA) in their last game of the season. Tyler Thomas leads the Pioneers in scoring with 16.3 PPG and 2.7 APG while Aaron Clarke has 16.2 PPG with a team-high 4 APG to lead Sacred Heart in assists so far this season. Nico Galette has 11.9 PPG with a team-high 7.8 RPG to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for Sacred Heart as the Pioneers’ top rebounder. As a team, Sacred Heart is averaging 67.9 PPG on 44.7% shooting from the field, 34.4% from three and 72.7% from the foul line while allowing 70.1 PPG on 45.8% shooting from the field and 34.7% from three this season.

The LIU Sharks come in as the #3 seed, finishing 15-13 overall, including 12-6 in conference play after a season-ending 84-77 win over Fairleigh Dickinson last time out. Ty Flowers leads the Sharks in scoring and rebounding with 19 PPG along with 7.7 RPG and 3.2 APG while Eral Penn has 17.4 PPG with 7.5 RPG. Isaac Kante’s got 11.9 PPG and 7.5 RPG to make up the trio of double-digit scorers for LIU. Tre Wood also leads the Sharks with 3.9 APG as well this season. As a team, LIU is averaging 75 PPG on 42.7% shooting from the field, 31.7% from three and 68.6% from the foul line while allowing 73.1 PPG on 41% shooting from the field and 31.4% from three this season.

Sacred Heart is 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games against a team with a winning record and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games against a team with a home winning percentage above .600 while the over is 15-5-1 in their last 21 games overall. LIU is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a win while the over is 5-1 in their last 6 home games.

I get the case to be made for the underdog in certain spots, especially with both team’s seasons on the line in these one bid leagues. However, both meetings were decided by four points this season and I just think this is too many points to give up with both team’s seasons on the line. Not a game I’m rushing to bet, but I’d lean towards Sacred Heart plus the points here.