The 11th-seeded La Salle Explorers (15-18) and No. 3 Fordham Rams (24-7) battle in an Atlantic-10 Tournament quarterfinal Thursday in Brooklyn. Tip time at the Barclays Center is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET (USA Network). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the La Salle vs. Fordham odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
The Explorers have advanced in the Brooklyn brackets with wins over Rhode Island on Tuesday and Duquesne on Wednesday). La Salle had entered the tournament on a 5-game losing streak.
With the benefit of early-round byes, the Rams are playing their A-10 tourney opener. Fordham, which went 12-6 in league play, is a solid defensive team. The Rams are 11-3 in their last 14 games and have yielded a mere 41.9% mark from the field over that stretch.
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La Salle vs. Fordham odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:41 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: La Salle +205 (bet $100 to win $205) | Fordham -270 (bet $270 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): La Salle +6.5 (-115) | Fordham -6.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 140.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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La Salle vs. Fordham picks and predictions
Prediction
La Salle 72, Fordham 69
Moneyline
Fordham is a good defensive team that does well to get chances at the free-throw line. But the perhaps-rusty Rams figure to be tested to the hilt in this game. La Salle is likable against the number, and some bettors on that action may want to go in for a partial-unit play here as well.
La Salle is coming off 2 fine games and usually plays better against faster teams (which the Rams are).
TAKE THE EXPLORERS (+205).
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Against the spread
The Rams won their regular-season finale 87-60; they are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight-up win of more-than-20 points.
That last Fordham game was on March 4. This season, the Rams have gone 2-4 ATS in games on 4-plus days of rest.
La Salle played a much tougher schedule during the season. Its a streaky team on a 2-game streak. While the moneyline is a better value, fora little insurance TAKE THE EXPLORERS +6.5 (-115).
Over/Under
For a faster-than-average game at a neutral venue, this total fits. STEER CLEAR.
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