Fresno State will be a road favorite in Friday’s Basketball Classic Championship game against Coastal Carolina. Sportsbooks have the Bulldogs at either -2.5 (BetMGM and Caesars) or -3 (FanDuel and DraftKings). Fresno State can be had for -145 on the moneyline at DraftKings. Supporters of the Chanticleers can get their team at +135 at BetMGM to win outright.
Oddsmakers appear to expect the game to be a low-scoring affair; the total is just 126.5.
NCAAB · Fri (4/1) @ 6:00pm ET
| FRES Fresno State | at | COAS Coastal Carolina |
| The HTC Center, Conway, SC | ||
Fresno State Bulldogs (22-13 SU, 18-15-1 ATS)
During the regular season, the Bulldogs were more of a defensive-minded team allowing just 59 points pergame (fourth-best in the country). However, it’s been their offense coming to the rescue during the Classic. They allowed 74 and 71 points in their first two games, well above their season average, but scored 83 and 80.
But in the semifinal game, the defense woke up and held Southern Utah to just 48 points; the offense chipped in 68.
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (19-13 SU, 16-12 ATS)
Coastal Carolina got its journey in the Basketball Classic off to a good start with a dominant win over Maryland-Eastern, 66-42. The offense took center stage against Florida Gulf Coast, putting up a 50-burger in the second half en route to an 84-68 victory. But against Southern Alabama, it took all the Chanticleers could muster on both ends of the court. They had to go to overtime to do it, but Coastal Carolina eventually secured the win, 69-68.
Betting Analysis
Unlike the NCAA Tournament and NIT, the Basketball Classic Championship game features one team playing at home. For Coastal Carolina, that could be huge; the Chanticleers are 13-6 at home this season. Fresno State, on the other hand, has struggled on the road going 5-8. However, in games where they have been a road favorite, the Bulldogs are 4-0.
Fresno State’s defense will keep them in this game, but the Bulldogs are lacking on the offensive end of the court. If Coastal Carolina was a poor defensive team, that would not be a big deal, but the Chanticleers have a respectable defense.
Our Pick: Coastal Carolina
Also read: Final Four Player Props: Duke Vs. North Carolina | Duke-UNC betting odds | Kansas-Villanova betting odds
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