UMBC vs. Sacred Heart prediction, odds, line, time: 2023 College basketball picks, best bets by proven model
Friday's slate of men's college basketball games brings great intrigue across the board. In the first game of the day, the Sacred Heart Pioneers visit the UMBC Retrievers with a late morning start. Sacred Heart is 2-1 overall and 1-1 on the road this season. UMBC is 1-2 overall and 1-1 at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena, where this matchup will be hosted.
Tip-off is at 11 a.m. ET in Baltimore. For this game, SportsLine consensus lists the Retrievers as 3-point favorites, while the over/under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 161.5 in the latest Sacred Heart vs. UMBC odds. Before you make any Sacred Heart vs. UMBC picks, you need to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer simulation model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 2 of the 2023-24 season on an 87-56 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. Anyone who followed it saw huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Sacred Heart vs. UMBC and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several college basketball odds and betting lines for Sacred Heart vs. UMBC:
- Sacred Heart vs. UMBC spread: UMBC -3
- Sacred Heart vs. UMBC over/under: 161.5 points
- Sacred Heart vs. UMBC money line: UMBC -152, SH +133
- SH: The Pioneers are 12-8 against the spread in the last 20 road games
- UMBC: The Retrievers are 8-9 against the spread in the last 17 home games
- Sacred Heart vs. UMBC picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Sacred Heart can cover
Sacred Heart has key advantages on defense when examining this matchup. The Pioneers are giving up only 46.0% shooting inside the arc while forcing 15.0 turnovers per game. That includes 10.3 steals per game, a top-40 mark in the country, and are also averaging 5.7 blocks per contest. Sacred Heart allows only 16.7 free throw attempts per game, compared to 22.3 attempts allowed by UMBC, and the Retrievers also average only 10.3 assists per game while shooting 48.2% from 2-point range and 52.5% at the free throw line.
On the offensive end, Sacred Heart is making 47.5% of 3-point attempts this season, a top-10 mark in the country, and the Pioneers are averaging only 10.3 turnovers per contest. Sacred Heart has two leaders in Nico Galette and Tanner Thomas, with each averaging more than 15 points and seven rebounds per contest this season. See which team to pick here.
Why UMBC can cover
UMBC is coming off a lopsided win in its last outing, toppling Penn State-York by shooting 50% from the field and 50% from 3-point range. That included a 52-point second half, and the Retrievers have a dynamic guard in Dion Brown. He is averaging 17.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game this season, including a 28-point showing against Louisville.
UMBC is shooting 39.0% from 3-point range this season, and the Retrievers are generating more offensive rebounds (12.3 per game) than turnovers (11.0 per game). Sacred Heart is allowing 38.7% shooting from 3-point distance, opening a pathway to continued perimeter success. On defense, UMBC is creating 16.0 turnovers per game while allowing only 10.0 assists per contest. The Retrievers have given up only 28.3% 3-point shooting, and Sacred Heart is making fewer than 48% of attempts inside the arc. See which team to pick here.
How to make Sacred Heart vs. UMBC picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the point total, with only one player projected to score 14 points or more. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
