The Western Carolina Catamounts (9-3, 1-0 SoCon) will be at McAlister Field House to challenge the Citadel Bulldogs (6-7, 0-2 SoCon) in a SoCon matchup. The game begins at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 4, 2020.
Western Carolina Catamounts at Citadel Bulldogs ATS Odds
In their last matchup, the Bulldogs lost a tough one against the Samford Bulldogs, 69-68, while the Catamounts easily got past the Piedmont Lions, 108-47.
Western Carolina dominated every stat category in the game. They had an absurd offensive rebounding percentage of 36.7 (above their season average of 31.7) and an effective field goal percentage of 0.729 (above their season average of 0.542). For those same stats, Piedmont was 11.4 and 0.377, respectively. Citadel, meanwhile, had a better offensive rebounding percentage (28.9 vs. 27.3). Citadel’s Kaiden Rice had a good game, finishing with 17 points. Carlos Dotson was a key piece for Western Carolina with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
The Catamounts dominated this series last year, winning both contests. In the last matchup, Western Carolina won 103-82. Western Carolina did a terrific job of getting to and converting from the free throw line (24-29; 82.8 percent). Citadel, on the other hand, had a much better turnover percentage (12.7 vs. 20.8). This will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams.
The upper-echelon offense of Citadel (65th in the country with an effective field goal percentage 0.533) will face off against the mid-tier defense of Western Carolina (310th in effective field goal percentage allowed 0.487). The Bulldogs figure to have the edge on that end of the court.
Western Carolina at Citadel Pick
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Western Carolina, ATS Winner – Western Carolina, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- Western Carolina averages 27.6 three pointers per game, which ranks 51st in the NCAA. Citadel ranks 245th in three pointers allowed per game (27.2).
- The Bulldogs rank 14th in assists per game (17.1) while the Catamounts rank 143rd (14.5).
- Citadel ranks 37th in blocks allowed per game (2.6) while Western Carolina ranks 126th (4.0).
- The Catamounts rank 51st in rebounds allowed per game (32.7) while the Bulldogs rank 226th (38.5).
- Citadel ranks 48th in steals per game (8.3) while Western Carolina ranks 194th (5.9).
Bettings Trends:
- During their last five games, the Bulldogs have scored an average of 94.0 points per game (10.2 above their season average) and allowed an average of 74.8 points per game (3.6 below their season average).
- The Catamounts’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 14.4, up from 9.8 for the season.
