The North Alabama Lions take on the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles in Jacksonville, FL, in the first round of the ASUN Tournament on Wednesday, March 4. Tip-off is set for 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Florida Gulf Coast is favored by 6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -320. The total is set at 141.5 points.
Here are my North Alabama vs. FGCU predictions and college basketball picks for Wednesday, March 4.
North Alabama vs FGCU Prediction
My Pick: FGCU -6.5 (Play to -8)
My North Alabama vs FGCU best bet is on the Eagles to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
North Alabama vs FGCU Odds
| North Alabama Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -110 | 141.5 -110 / -110 | +255 |
| FGCU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -110 | 141.5 -110 / -110 | -320 |
- North Alabama vs FGCU Spread: FGCU -6.5
- North Alabama vs FGCU Over/Under: 141.5 points
- North Alabama vs FGCU Moneyline: North Alabama +255, FGCU -320
North Alabama vs FGCU College Basketball Betting Preview
Take a deep breath. We're entering the best part of the college basketball calendar.
The early rounds of mid-major conference tournaments are starting, meaning nearly every team in the country is a handful of wins away from an NCAA Tournament bid and another handful away from making history.
That might sound lofty for a game between two sub-.500 ASUN teams, but that's the reality and the beauty of college hoops in March.
These teams have met twice this season, with FGCU winning both games fairly easily. The Eagles won at North Alabama by 17 and at home by eight after leading by as many as 21.
Beating the same team three times is no sure thing, especially in the mayhem of March.
North Alabama Basketball
It has been a long season for the Lions in Florence, Alabama. North Alabama is just 9-20 this year, with two of those wins coming over non-DI competition.
In ASUN play, North Alabama won just four times, only beating teams that finished under .500 in league play. The Lions couldn't knock off any of the four teams that earned byes to the quarterfinals of this tournament in six tries.
A nonconference road win over KenPom's 121st-ranked team, San Francisco, is the season highlight for the Lions, but that was way back in early December.
In conference play, the Lions have struggled, especially offensively. North Alabama has shot the worst percentage in the ASUN from beyond the arc and inside the arc, thanks largely to a stagnant offense that doesn't create scoring opportunities.
Only one team in college hoops has fewer assists this season than the Lions, averaging just 10 per game.
Point guard Canin Jefferson leads North Alabama in assists with nearly three per night, but he has missed six straight games due to injury. His continued absence would make matters even worse for the Lions in the ASUN tourney.
The North Alabama defense isn't much better, especially at and around the rim. ASUN opponents shot 59% on 2-point buckets against the Lions.
FGCU Basketball
It's been over a decade since the days of Dunk City, and the FGCU program has had its ups and downs. The Eagles are on their third coach since Andy Enfield cashed in on his FGCU success for bigger and better things.
FGCU is led by former Penn State head coach Pat Chambers, who has now guided the Eagles to two winning seasons and two losing seasons, fighting through the middle of a crowded pack in the ASUN.
The Eagles' successes in conference also largely came against the middle and bottom of the league. In seven games against the top four, which clearly separated themselves from the pack, FGCU won just once, defeating top-seeded Central Arkansas in overtime at home.
FGCU also led Central Arkansas deep into the second half before losing by just two on the road, which is worth noting should we get a third matchup between the Eagles and Bears in the ASUN semifinals.
J.R. Konieczny leads FGCU in scoring, rebounds and steals after spending the three prior seasons in the ACC at Notre Dame.
As expected, he has been stellar against a lower level of competition. Konieczny did miss four games in late January, including the second meeting between these two teams.
On the defensive end, the Eagles have been tough in ASUN play, thanks to rim protection in the paint. Dunk City allowed the lowest 2-point shooting percentage in the conference and led the ASUN in block rate.
That was spurred by NAIA transfer Isaiah Malone, who led the ASUN in blocks per game and ranks 15th in the country in block rate, per KenPom.
North Alabama vs FGCU Pick, Betting Analysis
North Alabama's offense is driven by attacks into the paint and creating contact to reach the free-throw line.
The Lions took 3s at the lowest rate in the ASUN and never created assists. Instead, North Alabama scored the highest percentage of points from the charity stripe in the conference.
With Malone on the floor, that's a dicey proposition. He'll challenge and alter the shot of any driver, yet he does face the issue of foul trouble. Malone commits 5.8 fouls per 40 minutes and has reached four or more fouls 14 times this season, with three foul-outs.
That makes for an interesting live-betting scenario if you're following along on Wednesday afternoon. If Malone picks up a few early fouls, North Alabama should have an easier time sticking close in this one.
If not, Konieczny is clearly the best player on the floor, and FGCU's defense is the standout unit in this game. The Eagles should win and cover, sending them to Thursday's quarterfinals.
My Pick: FGCU -6.5 (Play to -8)
