Mount Saint Mary's vs American: March Madness First Four Preview & Betting Odds
Mount Saint Mary's faces American in a high-stakes NCAA Tournament First Four matchup on Wednesday at 6:40 pm ET in Dayton, Ohio. The winner advances to play No. 1 Duke in the round of 64.
Basketball players compete for loose ball
The Mountaineers (21-12 ATS) enter on a hot streak, winning 9 of their last 11 games and going 6-0 ATS in their last six contests. They've been particularly strong as underdogs this season, posting a 14-5 ATS record when getting points.
American (16-15 ATS) relies on a slow-paced offense that averages just 67.6 points per game (308th nationally). The Eagles have won eight of their last ten games but struggle on the boards, averaging only 29.9 rebounds per game.
Iona basketball player in action
Key Betting Trends:
- Mount Saint Mary's is 10-5 ATS when getting 2.5+ points
- The under has hit in 5 straight Mount Saint Mary's games
- American is 4-8 ATS when favored by 2.5 or more
- The under is 5-1 in American's last 6 games
Excited crowd cheering at event
Current Odds (DraftKings):
- Spread: American -2.5 (-112)
- Moneyline: American -148, Mount Saint Mary's +124
- Total: 129.5 (Under -115)
Prediction: Mount Saint Mary's +2.5. The Mountaineers' strong defensive play and better rebounding should give them an edge in what projects to be a low-scoring affair.
Public Betting: 69% of moneyline handle on American, with the over drawing 75% of total bets. The spread action is nearly even with 52% backing American.