The Western Carolina Catamounts (2-6) will be at home in Ramsey Center when they go head-to-head against the Appalachian State Mountaineers (5-4). The Over/Under (O/U) for the game opened at 154 points with Appalachian State set as a 3-point favorite. Action starts at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, December 4, 2017.
Appalachian State Mountaineers at Western Carolina Catamounts Odds Preview
The Mountaineers easily got past the South Florida Bulls in their last matchup, 84-61. Ronshad Shabazz was the games leading scorer with 21 points on 9-for-18 shooting. Appalachian State dominated nearly every stat category in the game. They had a turnover percentage of 13.8 (better than their season average of 16.5) and an effective field goal percentage of 0.578 (above their season average of 0.551). For those same stats, South Florida put up marks of 22.1 and 0.473, respectively.
In the Catamounts last matchup, they were blown out by the Charleston Cougars, 69-60. With 18 points and eight rebounds, Western Carolina’s Deriece Parks played well. Charleston had a free throw rate of 0.490 (above their season average of 0.243). Western Carolina, meanwhile, held the Cougars to an offensive rebounding percentage of 27.8 (below the 35.5 mark opponents have averaged against Western Carolina this season).
The inefficient offense of Western Carolina will go head-to-head against the stingy defense of Appalachian State. Dating back to the 2016-17 season, the Catamounts rank 349th in offensive efficiency, while the Mountaineers are 26th in defensive efficiency. The Mountaineers figure to have the edge on that end of the court. Furthermore, the Mountaineers rank 37th in free throw attempt (FTA) rate (0.266), while the Catamounts rank 344th in opponents FTA rate (0.328).
Both of these teams have a tendency to go over the O/U total. Appalachian State games have gone over 57.1 percent of the time, while 85.7 percent of games featuring Western Carolina have finished over. The Mountaineers hold the sizable advantage straight up (SU) (5-4 vs. 2-6), but the Catamounts have been better against the spread (ATS) (4-3 vs. 4-3).
The Catamounts won the sole contest against the Mountaineers last season, 58-53. The Catamounts dominated nearly every facet of the game. They had an effective field goal percentage of 0.373 and an extraordinary offensive rebounding percentage of 34.9. The Mountaineers had marks of 0.327 and 30.8, respectively, for those same stats.
Appalachian State Mountaineers at Western Carolina Catamounts ATS Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Appalachian State, ATS Winner – Appalachian State, O/U – Under
Betting Notes (2016-Present):
- The Mountaineers rank 45th in assists allowed per game (12.8) while the Catamounts rank 248th (14.6).
- Appalachian State ranks 81st in blocks allowed per game (3.4) while Western Carolina ranks 253rd (4.3).
- Appalachian State ranks sixth in three pointers attempted per game (25.8) while Western Carolina ranks 248th (19.2).
- The Mountaineers rank 59th in steals per game (5.9) while the Catamounts rank 281st in steals allowed per game (8.3).
- Appalachian State averages 39.4 rebounds per game, which ranks first in the nation. Western Carolina ranks 212th in rebounds allowed per game (36.1).
