Maine vs Bryant 2024 America East Championship Odds & Game Picks
The Maine Black Bears (20-13, 10-6) face the Bryant Bulldogs (22-11, 14-2) in the America East Championship Game, with both teams seeking their first conference title. The game tips off at 11 am ET at Bryant University.
Player dunks basketball in game
Bryant opens as a 6.5-point favorite, with the total set at 143.5.
Key Factors:
- 1-seeds are 28-6 in America East title games
- Home teams are 56-12 straight up since 2015
- Bryant ranks 7th nationally in adjusted tempo
- Maine won 20 games for the first time since 2004
Head-to-Head:
- Bryant swept Maine in regular season
- Won 81-55 at home
- Won 80-72 at Maine on March 1
Bryant's Advantages:
- League's highest-scoring offense
- 7th in country for offensive rebounding
- Top-ranked adjusted defensive efficiency
- Strong transition game
Maine's Strengths:
- Solid defense (65.7 points allowed per game)
- Coming off upset win over Vermont
- First title game appearance since 2004
Prediction: Bryant's fast-paced offense and rebounding advantage should prove too much for Maine. The home-court advantage and historical success of 1-seeds in the tournament add further weight to Bryant's chances.
Pick: Bryant -6.5 (-108)
Note: No team has won multiple road games in the America East Tournament since 2012, making Maine's path to victory particularly challenging.