First Four: Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Texas Southern odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Wednesday’s Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Texas Southern odds and lines, with college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (19-15) and Texas Southern Tigers (14-20) meet in an NCAA Tournament First Four contest Wednesday. The battle for an East Region No. 16 seed at UD Arena in Dayton will tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET (truTV). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Texas Southern odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.

Fairleigh Dickinson is in the NCAA Tournament for the 1st time since 2019 by way of winning the Northeast Conference Tournament … sort of. FDU lost the title game to Merrimack, a school transitioning to DI from DII and ineligible to compete in the NCAA tourney. Enter the Knights, who did beat Merrimack twice during a season that saw them log 77.8 points per game.

Texas Southern got to Dayton by way of winning the Southwest Athletic Conference Tournament. The Tigers have been a streaky bunch this season; in their last 9 games they have won 3 in a row, lost 3 in a row and won 3 in a row.

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Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Texas Southern odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:01 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline: Fairleigh Dickinson +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Texas Southern -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Fairleigh Dickinson +1.5 (-105) | Texas Southern -1.5 (-115)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 145.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)

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Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Texas Southern picks and predictions

Prediction

Texas Southern 75, Fairleigh Dickinson 69

Moneyline

Streaky Texas Southern is on the upswing. The Tigers are the value side here, but go easy on your sportsbook account and look to the ATS action in this game: PASS.

Against the spread

FDU is 2-10 ATS in its last 12 neutral-site games. The Tigers are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games, and coach Johnny Jones owns a 5-2 ATS mark in the Big Dance.

Texas Southern is a more veteran group and one that has played a much tougher schedule. Look for the Tigers’ defense, rate of free-throw attempts and rate of shots from in close to be difference makers in this battle.

TAKE THE TIGERS -1.5 (-115).

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Over/Under

Peg this game as a faster-than-average-pace game destined for a total in the mid-140s. PASS.

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