by The Troy Trojans (19-12) will take on the Arkansas State Red Wolves (13-19) in the second round of the Sun Belt Tournament. Tipoff is set for Thursday at 3:00 PM ET from Pensacola Bay Center in Florida.
The Trojans enter this game on a hot streak with six wins in their last seven games. Senior forward Zay Williams leads Troy in scoring with 12.1 points per game while also averaging 7.7 rebounds.
Troy
The Troy Trojans are back in action on Thursday when they head to Pensacola, Florida, to take on the Arkansas State Red Wolves. The Trojans enter the game at 19-12 on the season, while the Red Wolves sit at 13-19.
The Trojans have won six of their last ten games and are riding a two-game win streak against the Red Wolves. They are averaging 73.5 points per game, while allowing 66.8.
Despite their mediocre record, the Trojans are still a solid bet against the spread. They have gone 6-4 over their last 10 games and have covered the spread in seven of their last eight games.
They will be looking to keep their winning streak going against the Red Wolves as they look to improve to 2-2 in their current five-game Sun Belt Conference tournament run. The Trojans are favored by 8.5 points on the odds board, while the over/under is set at 134.5 (see up-to-date odds for every game this week on our college basketball odds page).
Both teams have struggled to score at times this season and will need to be more consistent to make this one of their best games yet. They will also need to keep the ball moving on both ends of the floor to avoid a shootout.
Arkansas State
Troy is one of the top teams in the Sun Belt Conference. They have won three straight games and are tied for fourth in the standings with Old Dominion, four games behind Southern Miss.
The Trojans are averaging 73.5 points per game and outscoring opponents by 6.7 points per contest. They have a +209 scoring differential and have lost just once in their last 14 games.
In their most recent matchup, the Troy Trojans defeated Coastal Carolina by a final score of 95-74. This was a close game with both teams holding leads for much of the first half. Neither team was able to break through in the second half but Troy pulled out a win thanks to their defense.
They defended Coastal Carolina very well in the game by forcing them into 10 turnovers. They also managed to snag 11 offensive rebounds and had 9 steals on the night. The Troy Trojans will have to rely on their defensive efforts against Arkansas State who is also a strong defensive team and has won two of its last three games.
This game will feature a great battle between two teams that are both ranked in the top 100 of the AP poll. It is a matchup that will be worth watching and you can bet on it using our odds.
The Troy Trojans are averaging 73.5 points, 6.4 more than the Red Wolves allow. They are also making 6.3 three-pointers per game, compared to the 6.6 made by the Red Wolves.
A lot of this difference can be attributed to the fact that Troy is a better shooting team than Arkansas State. They make 37% of their shots from the field and shoot 40% from 3-point range.
Schedule
The Troy Trojans (19-12, 11-7 Sun Belt) will face the Arkansas State Red Wolves (13-19, 4-14 Sun Belt) on Thursday in a second-round matchup of the Sun Belt Conference tournament. The game is set for the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Florida, at 3 p.m. ET and is broadcast on ESPN+.
The Trojans have won four of their last five home games and will be looking to continue that trend against the Red Wolves on Thursday afternoon. They defeated Coastal Carolina 95-74 in their most recent outing and have won six of their last seven overall.
They have a strong defense that should keep the Red Wolves in check. The Trojans have only allowed 66.8 points per game this season, which is 88th in the country, while Arkansas State has tallied 71.5 points per game.
This game opens as a healthy 8.5-point favorite at Caesars Sportsbook and the total is also set for 134.5 points. You can find all of the latest odds for this game on our college basketball betting page.
It’s worth noting that the spread for this game dipped as low as +7 early on Thursday morning before it rose back up to the 8.5-point mark by late in the day. That said, this is a big rematch of a very close game in January, so you might want to bet against the oddsmakers’ expectations on this one.
Prediction
The Troy Trojans (19-12, 11-7 Sun Belt) will take on the Arkansas State Red Wolves (13-19, 4-14 Sun Belt) in the second round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament on Thursday. The Trojans enter the game with a record of 7-1 in their last eight games and a win over Coastal Carolina in their last outing on Tuesday.
The Trojans have a great chance of winning this college basketball matchup and are set to pick up a victory in the spread and moneyline. They have a healthy 8.5-point favorite and a 134.5-point total.
If you’re betting on the game, make sure to shop for the best odds from your favorite sportsbooks. The odds and lines will vary depending on which online bookmaker is available in your state. For example, FanDuel Sportsbook has the best spread and moneyline odds for Troy at -400.
It’s also important to check out the Totals market when making your bets. These markets are typically a value play and can help you win big.
When it comes to points, the Trojans are averaging 140.3 per game this season and have covered the spread 14 times. They’re also 5-1 ATS as an 8.5-point underdog.
The Red Wolves have a similar record to the Trojans and are 4-3 ATS as an 8.5-point underdog this season. They’ve gone over the total 15 times and are averaging 133.7 per game this season.
They’ve also won four of their last ten games and have a two-game win streak. Their biggest wins this year have been over Texas State, South Alabama, Louisiana and LA-Monroe.
Besides Omar El-Sheikh and Terrance Ford, who lead the team in scoring at 11.5 points and 9.5 boards, respectively, the Red Wolves also have an experienced and strong frontcourt that includes Izaiyah Nelson and Jamel Brown.
