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The Texas Southern Tigers (16-15) and Grambling Tigers (19-14) meet in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament Championship Game Saturday at the Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU/ESPN+). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Texas Southern vs. Grambling odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The 3rd-seeded Texas Southern Tigers have picked up wins and covers against Jackson State and Alabama A&M to get back to the SWAC title game. The Tigers are trying to back to the Big Dance for the 4th straight season, and 8th time just since 2014.
Texas Southern has won 3 in a row, and 7 of the past 8 games, while covering at a 7-1 against the spread (ATS) clip since Feb. 19.
The 1st-seeded Grambling Tigers posted wins and covers against Alabama State and Bethune-Cookman to get to the final. Grambling is trying to make history, as it is one of 2 SWAC institutions to never have qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
Grambling has won 8 of the past 9 games, with the only setback an overtime loss at Alabama State in the regular-season finale March 9. Grambling is 9-4 ATS in the past 13 games, including a 66-63 win at Texas Southern on Feb. 17 in the most recent meeting.
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Texas Southern vs. Grambling odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:25 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Texas Southern -140 (bet $140 to win $100) | Grambling +116 (bet $100 to win $116)
- Against the spread: Texas Southern -2.5 (-110) | Grambling +2.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 127.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Texas Southern vs. Grambling picks and predictions
Prediction
Grambling 69, Texas Southern 67
Moneyline
GRAMBLING (+116) is going to make history, punching its ticket to the NCAA Tournament, likely the First Four, for the first time in school history.
These Tigers have been red-hot, winning 8 of the past 9 games, with a lone setback in overtime along the way. It isn’t going to be easy, and it might even come down to the final possession, but Grambling is going dancing.
Against the spread
GRAMBLING +2.5 (-110) is worth playing if you’d like a little bit of insurance. Each of the 2 regular-season meetings have been decided by 3 points or less, so it’s unlikely we’ll get a lopsided score either way.
Grambling has really been playing well, and it won the most recent meeting in Houston. The time is now for Grambling to make history.
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Over/Under
OVER 127.5 (-110) is the best play on the board in this SWAC title game.
The Under is 2-0 in the 2 games for Grambling in this tourney, but these Tigers have scored 74 or more points in 3 of the past 6 outings.
For Texas Southern, it has cashed the Over in 4 of the past 5 games, going for 72 or more points in 7 straight outings, while allowing at least 70 points in 4 of the previous 6 contests.
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