The 3-seeded Norfolk State Spartans (22-10) face the 1-seeded Howard Bison (21-12) Saturday in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament championship game, with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line. Tip from Norfolk Scope Arena is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Norfolk State vs. Howard odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
The Spartans rallied past the 2nd-seed North Carolina Central Friday, winning 72-65 in overtime as 1-point favorites as the Over (136.5) connected. Norfolk State covered the spread in both of its games in the MEAC Tournament.
The Bison rumbled to a 74-55 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore Friday and have won their 2 tourney games by an average margin of 27.5 points. Howard has also covered both tournament games, while cashing the Under in each, limiting both opponents to 55 points.
Howard crushed visiting Norfolk State 87-67 in its regular-season finale on March 2, and it nipped the Spartans 86-84 as a 9-point road underdog in the first meeting on Jan. 14. The Over cashed in both regular-season meetings.
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Norfolk State vs. Howard odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:44 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Norfolk State -130 (bet $130 to win $100) | Howard +110 (bet $100 to win $110)
- Against the spread (ATS): Norfolk State -1.5 (-115) | Howard +1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 146.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Norfolk State vs. Howard picks and predictions
Prediction
Howard 78, Norfolk State 75
Moneyline
HOWARD (+110) swept the regular-season series, and its beating of Norfolk State by 20 points in the season finale is surely fresh in the mind of both sides.
Although Norfolk Scope Arena is a neutral court there should still be a pro-Spartans crowd to work against the Bison a little. However, Howard has been so very dominant in this tournament and appears to be on a mission to the Big Dance. Howard has won its last 3 games by at least 19 points.
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Against the spread
There is little reason to play Howard +1.5 (-105) rather than on the moneyline unless you are dead-set on this game being a 1-point victory for Norfolk State. Just take the better value on the outright win.
PASS.
Over/Under
OVER 146.5 (-105) is the lean as we saw the total go high in each of the 2 regular-season meetings.
The Over is 16-5 in the past 21 games overall for Norfolk State and has cashed in Howard’s last 4 games against winning teams.
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