Expert prediction
NCAA First Round: Furman vs UConn Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 20)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- The Paladins make their second NCAA Tournament in the last four years.
- The Huskies finished as the runners-up in the Big East Tournament.
- This marks the third all-time matchup between the two squads.
The Big East will enjoy its biggest showdown when the No. 6 UConn Huskies face the No. 13 St. John’s Red Storm in the Big East Championship Game on Saturday night. The former comes out as the slight favorite, duking it out with their conference rival for the conference championship.
How to Watch
- When: Friday, March 20, 10 pm ET
- Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- How to Watch: TBS
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furman | -105 | +20.5 | O135.5 |
| UConn | -115 | -20.5 | U135.5 |
Game Preview
The Paladins (22-12) automatically qualified for the Big Dance after beating ETSU in the SoCon Championship Game. Furman has been led this season by freshman Alex Wilkins’ 17.7 points and 4.7 assists per game. The star guard earned second team All-SoCon honors following the regular season and was named the Most Outstanding Player Award at the SoCon Tournament after totaling 65 points over three games. Meanwhile, Asa Thomas has added 12.4 points per game this season while missing seven games with a lower body injury.
Dan Hurley and the Huskies (29-5) earned an At-Large bid to the NCAA Tournament despite falling to St. John’s in the Big East Championship Game. They stand out as one of the best teams in the country, having won consecutive national titles in 2023 and 2024. Silas Demary Jr., Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. became the first trio of teammates to all earn All-Big East First Team honors in the same season in conference history. Solo Ball was a Second Team pick and Braylon Mullins was a unanimous selection the All-Freshman team. Reed leads the Huskies with 13.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots per game, ranking among the top-20 nationally with a 62.5 field goal percentage. Ball is second on the squad with 13.5 per game and hits 2.1 3-pointers per contest, recently named a Top Five Finalist for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award.
Furman vs UConn Head-to-Head
The two programs have had two meetings in their history, and the result is 2-0 for the Huskies. The last matchup was in November 2015 when UConn won 83-58 at home.
Furman vs UConn Predictions
The winner of this matchup will take on the victors between UCLA and UCF in the second round. UConn continues to shine as a top team with the goal of winning three national titles in four years, a status meant for the greatest basketball dynasties. However, Furman has potential for an upset win as they stunned Virginia in the 2023 tournament. The Huskies will have to be fully concentrated to set the tone from start to finish. Our betting pick here is for the Huskies to defend a 20.5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick: UConn Huskies -20.5
NCAAB
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