Alcorn State Braves vs Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Pick – 3/13/2025

The Alcorn State Braves and the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats are set to face off in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) quarterfinals on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 8:30 PM Eastern Time at the Gateway Center Arena. This matchup features the third-seeded Wildcats against the sixth-seeded Braves, both aiming to advance further in the tournament.

Alcorn State Braves vs Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Game Preview

The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats concluded the regular season with a 16-15 record, securing the third spot in the SWAC standings. They are coming off a narrow 76-75 victory over Florida A&M. Offensively, the Wildcats average 69.2 points per game, ranking 303rd nationally. Defensively, they allow 72.6 points per game, placing them 205th. Key players include Tre Thomas, who leads the team with 16.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, and Brayon Freeman, contributing 16.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.

The Alcorn State Braves finished the regular season with an 11-20 record, placing them sixth in the SWAC. They recently secured a 65-63 win against Arkansas Pine Bluff. The Braves average 65.2 points per game offensively, ranking 353rd in the nation, and allow 72.2 points per game defensively, placing them 196th. Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt leads the team with 11.2 points and 2.9 assists per game, while Marcus Tankersley adds 10.5 points per game.

Betting Insights

• Point Spread: Bethune-Cookman is favored by 2.5 points.
• Over/Under: The total points line is set at 133.5.

Recent betting trends to consider:

• Alcorn State has won each of its last six games against Bethune-Cookman.
• Bethune-Cookman has lost 12 of its last 13 night games played at neutral venues.
• Alcorn State has lost 20 of its last 25 games played at neutral venues.
• Bethune-Cookman has won each of its last five games.

Alcorn State Braves vs Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Prediction

Considering the current form and historical performance, this game presents a compelling matchup. Bethune-Cookman enters the game on a five-game winning streak and holds a better overall record. However, Alcorn State has demonstrated dominance in recent head-to-head encounters, winning the last six meetings, including both matchups this season. The Braves secured a 70-61 victory at home and a 78-74 win on the road against the Wildcats.

Given these factors, while Bethune-Cookman is favored, Alcorn State's recent success against them cannot be overlooked. Bettors might find value in considering Alcorn State to cover the spread or potentially secure an outright win, despite being the underdog. Additionally, with both teams having modest offensive outputs and previous matchups being relatively low-scoring, the under on the total points line of 133.5 could be a prudent consideration.