When the Morehead State Eagles do dancing, they make the most of it. The Eagles have won at least one game in five of their previous seven NCAA Tournament appearances and they are red-hot coming into this matchup, winning 19 of their last 20 games.
But if Morehead State wants to keep rolling through March, they’ll have to go through NCAA coaching legend Bob Huggins and the West Virginia Mountaineers as 13-point underdogs.
Check out our best Morehead State vs. West Virginia March Madness picks and predictions for college basketball betting action on Friday, March 19.
Morehead State vs West Virginia odds
Sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonWest Virginia landed on TwinSpires' odds board at -12 and is up to -13 about 90 minutes before this 9:50 p.m. ET start. But underdog Morehead State is taking the bulk of the action, at 56 percent of tickets and 62 percent of cash. The total is down to 136 from a 137.5 opener, though the Over is seeing 62 percent of tickets/67 percent of dollars.
Check out the full line movement for this gameMorehead State Eagles vs West Virginia Mountaineers betting preview
Injuries
Morehead State: No injuries to report.
West Virginia: No injuries to report.
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting trend to know
Morehead State is 10-1 ATS in its last 11 games as an underdog, while West Virginia is 0-4 ATS in its last four overall. Find more NCAA betting trends for Morehead State vs. West Virginia.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
Yes, Morehead State has won 19 of its last 20 games, which includes two wins over Ohio Valley Conference regular-season champions Belmont. But even the Eagles’ slow start can be attributed to a tough non-conference schedule, where they faced Kentucky, Richmond, Ohio State and Clemson.
Morehead State does its best work on defense, where they ranked 73nd in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom and 46th in opponent effective field goal percentage. On offense, Johni Broome gives the Eagles a presence on the inside while Skyelar Potter and Devon Cooper, who both shot above 34 percent from deep, work on the perimeter. And they won’t be going up against the “Press Virginia” we are used to.
Yes, the Mountaineers play with a different style this year, instead of the high-intensity, turnover-causing, full-court press we are used to from a Bob Huggins team. Now, they can actually set up and hit shots. Miles McBride, Taz Sherman and Sean McNeil all shot over 30 percent from 3-point range this season, but they can go cold and it has cost them at times this season
It will be interesting to see how these teams match up in the NCAA Tournament. West Virginia does not defend overly well, ranking 180th in opponent effective field goal percentage allowing 72.1 points per game. That should give Morehead State some room to work, but in the end “Press Virginia” could make a comeback against an Eagles team that turns over the ball too often.
West Virginia should win this one, but Morehead State will make them work for it. On top of that, the Mountaineers are just 4-7 when laying double-digit points this season.
PREDICTION: Morehead State +13 (-110)
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Over/Under Pick
This is quite a clash of total teams. Morehead State was an Under bettor’s dream, going 10-18 O/U this season, while West Virginia got Over bettors all hot and heavy at 18-9 O/U. So, where are we siding in this one?
Well, let's start with the Eagles. They were a great Under bet because they played fantastic defense and weren’t the most gifted offensive team. But, over the last several weeks, the offense has picked it up a bit. The Eagles have put up 72.4 points per game over their last 10 games, with the Over going 6-4. And, as noted, they should be able to keep that up against a questionable-at-times Mountaineers defense.
For the Mountaineers, there hasn’t been much change to their total trend, going 10-3 to the Over in their last 13 games. While they are going against a solid on paper defense, they just have too many weapons to be held down for long. The Over is the way to go here on the March Madness odds board.
PREDICTION: Over 137.5 (-110)
First-half team total pick
While Morehead State has not been known for its offensive prowess this season, their first-half team total seems a little insulting at 28.5. They averaged 32.5 points per game in the first half this season and haven’t been below that number heading into the break since a Feb. 6 matchup against Austin Peay.
The Eagles struggled in the first half against the likes of Kentucky, Ohio State and Clemson, but still averaged 24 points in those three games, and they were nowhere near the groove they are in now. Bet them to go Over their first-half team total.
PREDICTION: Morehead State Over 28.5 First Half Team Total (-115)
Morehead State vs West Virginia betting card
- Morehead State +13 (-110)
- Over 137.5 (-110)
- Morehead State Over 28.5 First-Half Team Total (-115)
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