SWAC Tournament: Texas Southern vs. Grambling odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s Texas Southern vs. Grambling odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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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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SWAC Tournament: Texas Southern vs. Grambling State odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s Texas Southern vs. Grambling State odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The 8-seed Texas Southern Tigers (13-20) face the 2-seed Grambling State Tigers (24-8) Saturday in the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship Game, with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line. Tip from Bartwon Arena is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Texas Southern vs. Grambling State odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.

Texas Southern may be the 8-seed but it has tapped into its postseason experience. It topped 1-seed Alcorn State 66-62 as a 2-point underdog in the 1st round Tuesday and dropped Alabama A&M in the semifinals by a 74-61 count as a 3-point favorite Friday. The Under cashed in both games, helped along by TSU allowing just 61.5 points per game.

Grambling State is back in the SWAC title game for the first time since 2011, and it is looking for its first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers belted Bethune Cookman 87-72 in the opening round Wednesday and eased by Jackson State 78-69 in a tough matchup Friday. The Tigers have covered 7 straight games and the Over is 2-0 in this tourney.

Grambling won 65-46 against Texas Southern on Feb. 11, easily cashing as a 5.5-point home favorite as the Under (135) cashed. Grambling also picked up an 85-72 victory as a 2.5-point road underdog on Jan. 4 as the Over (131.5) connected.

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Texas Southern vs. Grambling State odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:06 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Texas Southern +225 (bet $100 to win $225) | Grambling State -280 (bet $280 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Texas Southern +6.5 (-110) | Grambling State -6.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 132.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Texas Southern vs. Grambling State picks and predictions

Prediction

Grambling State 69, Texas Southern 61

Moneyline

Grambling State (-290) will cost you nearly 3 times your potential return. That’s an expensive play for any standalone wager, regardless of if it’s a championship game. It’s a bad long-term strategy to bet such heavy favorites.

PASS.

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Against the spread

GRAMBLING STATE -6.5 (-110) laying the points is the way to go, although it wouldn’t be surprising to see Texas Southern hang around and put a scare into the Louisiana-based Tigers.

Texas Southern is the defending SWAC Tournament champ and it isn’t likely to go quietly into the night, but it’s Grambling’s time to shine, and finally break through and go dancing for the first time in school history.

Over/Under

UNDER 132.5 (-110) is worth playing lightly, but roll with a half-unit play at most.

It’s all about the Under for Texas Southern, going 4-1 in the past 5 games following a straight-up win and 7-2 in its last 9 after a cover. The Under is 4-1 in the past 5 neutral-site games for TSU, too.

The Under has connected in 7 of Grambling’s last 9 neutral-site games, but be careful as the total has gone high in its first 2 tourney games.

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For sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Plus, try out the USA TODAY Parlay Calculator and please gamble responsibly.

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