The NCAA Tournament officially gets underway Tuesday evening with a clash between St. Francis (PA) and Alabama State in the First Four at 6:40 p.m. ET.
It’s far from the sexiest matchup we’ll see this March, but bettors will be champing at the bit for the tourney to get started, so don’t be shocked if this game does decent numbers behind the betting window.
Alabama State is a 3.5-point favorite.
Read our preview for Alabama State vs. St. Francis, and check out an exclusive sign-up offer from Caesars Sportsbook below.
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St. Francis vs. Alabama State odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Francis (PA) | +3.5 (-110) | +152 | o138.5 (-110) |
| Alabama State | -3.5 (-110) | -180 | u138.5 (-110) |
St. Francis vs. Alabama State betting preview
It’s stating the obvious, but this is a matchup between the two worst teams in the Field of 68.
Alabama State (19-15) won the SWAC against the odds as the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament.
The Hornets enter the NCAA tournament ranked 273rd overall by KenPom.
That puts them in the bottom-third of Division I, but still ahead of St. Francis, who currently sit 311th in KenPom’s Power Rankings.
Like Alabama State, the Red Flash upset the odds by winning the NEC Tournament as the No. 4 seed.
St. Francis has won six in a row entering Tuesday’s contest.
St. Francis vs. Alabama State pick
There’s no getting around that this one could get ugly.
And we’re not talking about a rout – but rather a game that features very little rhythm or offensive prowess.
Betting on College Basketball?
Neither of these two teams rank inside the top 250 in KenPom’s offensive efficiency rankings and the favorite – Alabama State – ranks 327th out of 364 teams in effective field goal percentage.
This one has all the right ingredients for a play on the under.
Pick: Under 138.5 (-110, Caesars)
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Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
