St. Bonaventure vs. LSU Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Mar. 20, 2021

David Schwab
NCAA BK Expert
VegasInsider.com

St. Bonaventure vs. LSU Predictions

The SEC’s Tigers get the slight edge in this matchup as 1.5-point favorites for Saturday’s 1:45 p.m. (ET) tip on TNT. The betting line for the total in this game has been opened at 144.5 points.

This first round matchup could go either way with the spread as close as each team’s seeds. The Atlantic 10 could be one of the most underrated conferences among the bigger Mid Majors and the SEC remains a power conference in football only.

This might cause a bit of bias in this pick as a big fan of talented Mid Major teams. That is why I'm penciling in the Bonnies to the second round with the SU win.

In order to get this win, St. Bonaventure is going to have to play exceptionally well on defense against the high-scoring Tigers. This will keep the total UNDER the inflated 144.5-point line.

• Score Prediction: St. Bonaventure 73 LSU 70
• Best Bets - Side: St. Bonaventure +1.5
• Best Bets - Total: UNDER 144.5

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St. Bonaventure vs. LSU Betting Odds

Line Movements

• Spread: LSU -1.5
• Total: 144.5
• Money-Line: LSU -125 St. Bonaventure +105

Odds to Win NCAA Tournament

• St. Bonaventure 100/1
• LSU 50/1

Odds to Win East Regional

• St. Bonaventure 30/1
• LSU 12/1

Odds Subject to Change

First Round Predictions

Saturday's Early Action - Mar. 20 5 vs. 12 4 vs. 13 3 vs. 14 8 vs. 9 1 vs. 16 5 vs. 12 2 vs. 15 6 vs. 10

Handicapping St. Bonaventure vs. LSU

The Bonnies are an exciting addition to this year’s field as the top team from the Atlantic 10. With a 6-1 run (straight-up and against the spread) in their last seven games, they bring some solid momentum into this opening round contest. This includes a nine-point victory as three-point favorites over VCU in the A-10 Tournament final.

LSU came up one point short against Alabama in the SEC Tournament title game as a six-point underdog. This snapped a SU four-game winning streak. The Tigers did post some impressive wins this season as part of a SU 18-9 record overall. They went 14-13 ATS.

• Region: East
• Matchup: 8 vs. 9
• Venue: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
• Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
• Date: Mar. 20, 2021
• TV-Time: TNT - 1:45 p.m. (ET)

Handicapping Resources: March Madness Central | NCAA Consensus Picks

Betting Stats & Analysis - St. Bonaventure Bonnies

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

St. Bonaventure has won 14 of its last 17 games SU. It is 3-1-1 ATS this season in five games closing as an underdog. It is also a perfect 4-0 ATS in four previous neutral-site games.

The total has stayed UNDER in 14 of the Bonnies’ last 18 games. It has also stayed UNDER in 11 of their last 14 games played in March.

Seed: 9
Conference: A-10
Bid: Auto

• SU: 15-4
• ATS: 12-5-2
• O/U: 5-14

• Current Form (Last 5): 4-1 SU, 4-1 ATS, 2-3 O/U
• Notable Wins: VCU (x2), Saint Louis

• PS/G: 70.5 (199th)
• PA/G: 60.4 (5th)
• Off Rtg: 108.2 (90th)
• Def Rtg: 92.6 (24th)

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Betting Stats & Analysis - LSU Tigers

LSU has covered ATS in five of its last six games. It is a perfect 6-0 ATS in its last six March games. It went 3-1 ATS in four previous neutral-site games this season.

The total has gone OVER in 17 of 27 games this season. This includes three of the Tigers’ last four outings. It has also gone OVER in five of their last six games against a team from the A-10.

Seed: 8
Conference: SEC
Bid: At-large

• SU: 18-8
• ATS: 13-13
• O/U: 16-10

• Current Form (Last 5): 4-1 SU, 5-0 ATS, 3-2 O/U
• Notable Wins: Arkansas (x2), Tennessee, Missouri

• PS/G: 82.1 (8th)
• PA/G: 75.3 (286th)
• Off Rtg: 112.3 (22nd)
• Def Rtg: 103 (248th)

First Round Predictions

Saturday's Late Action - Mar. 20 2 vs. 15 7 vs. 10 4 vs. 13 8 vs. 9 1 vs. 16 6 vs. 11 3 vs. 14 7 vs. 10

Key Players to Watch

The Bonnies have five players scoring at least 11 points per game led by guard Kyle Lofton’s 14.6-point average. He also leads the team in assists (5.5). Guard Dominick Welch (11.6 points) is shooting 44.6% from the field and 39.5% from three-point range.

Guard Cameron Thomas is LSU’s top scorer with an average of 22.6 PPG. Forward Trendon Watford (16.7 points) and guard Ja’Vonte Smart (15.9 points) are the next two players on the list with the Tigers averaging 82.1 PPG overall. Each of those players is shooting better than 46% from the field.

• BONN - Kyle Lofton (14.6 PPG, 5.5 APG)
• BONN - Jaren Holmes (13.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG)

• LSU - Cameron Thomas (22.6 PPG)
• LSU - Trendon Watford (16.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG)

March Madness Records & Trends

St. Bonaventure Bonnies

• All-Time Record: 7-9
• Last Appearance: 2018
• Deepest Run: Final Four (1970)

--St. Bonaventure has lost six of its last seven NCAA Tournament games.
-- St. Bonaventure has failed to reach the Sweet 16 in four straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
-- St. Bonaventure has been eliminated by a school from Florida in two straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
-- St. Bonaventure has covered the spread in three straight games when playing on a neutral court.
-- St. Bonaventure has covered the spread in six of its last seven games.
-- St. Bonaventure has gone UNDER the point total in 14 of its last 18 games.

LSU Tigers

• All-Time Record: 26-25
• Last Appearance: 2019
• Deepest Run: Final Four (2006)

-- LSU has won seven of its last 11 NCAA Tournament games.
-- LSU has seen three of its last four NCAA Tournament games decided by five points or less.
-- LSU has failed to reach the Sweet 16 in three straight NCAA Tournament appearances after reaching the Sweet 16 the NCAA Tournament appearance prior.
-- LSU has covered the spread in five straight games.
-- LSU has gone OVER the point total in three of its last four games.

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