Alabama A&M vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff Odds and Picks (Jan 3)

• The Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions are 1.5-point favorites over the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in an NCAA men’s basketball game slated for Monday, January 3
• It’s the SWAC season opener for both schools
• Read below for analysis and a betting prediction

As is commonplace with SWAC schools, both the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions and the Alabama A&M Bulldogs undertook a gauntlet of a non-conference schedule.

The Bulldogs (1-9) played nine of their first 10 games on the road. Meanwhile, the Golden Lions (2-11) have played all but three contests away from home, including four trips to schools ranked in the top-20.

Beginning conference play on Monday against each other, it’s the Golden Lions that oddsmakers like as a 1.5-point home favorite. Arkansas-Pine Bluff is 2-1-1 against the spread over the past four games upon which there was betting action.

Alabama A&M vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff Odds

Odds as of January 2nd at BetMGM.

Tipoff for Monday’s game at HO Clemmons Arena inside the KL Johnson Complex is set for 8:30 pm ET. The game can be streamed through the UAPB Sports Network.

Alabama A&M Bulldogs Betting Trends

The Bulldogs played Lipscomb tough in their last game on Thursday before falling 66-63 to the Bison. Alabama A&M twice grabbed the lead during the final 2:36 of the second half but couldn’t hang on to the advantage.

Junior guard Garrett Hicks led the way with 19 points for the Bulldogs. Junior center EJ Williams (16 points) and junior forward Jalen Johnson (10 points) also hit for double digits.

Hicks is leading the Bulldogs in scoring, averaging 13.8 points per game. He also leads the team with 2.2 steals per game. Johnson is their top rebounder, grabbing 6.2 boards per game.

Junior guard Cameron Tucker is dishing out a team-best 4.0 assists per game. Senior forward Myles Parker is Alabama A&M’s top 3-point (.400) and free-throw shooter (.824).

Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions Betting Trends

Senior guard Dequan Morris shot 60% from the field and paced the offense with 23 points as the Golden Lions whipped Ecclesia College 97-56 on Saturday in their previous game. Senior guard Shawn Williams (15 points), sophomore guard Kylen Milton (14 points) and junior guard Brandon Brown (13 points) also connected in double figures.

The Ecclesia victory improved the Golden Lions to 2-1 at home this season. They also beat Arkansas Baptist 75-70.

Williams (14.0 points per game) leads Arkansas-Pine Bluff in scoring. He’s one of five players averaging in double digits in points. Morris (12.4), junior forward Trey Sampson (12.3), Milton (11.8) and Brown (10.0) are the others.

Brown (8.1 boards per game) is the Golden Lions’ top rebounder. Williams (3.8) is their assist leader and top 3-point man (.359). Milton (.783) shows the way at the free-throw line.

Golden Lions vs Bulldogs Prediction

Alabama A&M has lost nine in a row. The Bulldogs are 0-9 straight up on the road this season.

However, they have won three in a row against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. That includes a 58-54 verdict the last time the Bulldogs were facing the Golden Lions on the road on February 8, 2020. Last year, Alabama A&M won 56-55 on their home court over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

While neither team will be taking the court with a glowing record, looking at the list of opponents they’ve faced, there has to be a sense that the Golden Lions will be the more battle-tested squad. This season, Arkansas-Pine Bluff has squared off against #1 Baylor (99-54 loss), #8 Iowa State (83-64 loss), #17 Texas (63-31 loss) and #20 Colorado State (91-71 loss).

Arkansas-Pine Bluff are 5-5-1 ATS this season, while Alabama A&M are 4-6 ATS. Seven of nine Bulldogs road games this season have gone under. Meanwhile, the Golden Lions show that they’ve gone over in seven games during the campaign.

Alabama A&M are 5-13 ATS over the past 18 games but 5-2 ATS in the last seven against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. But the Bulldogs are 3-12 SU in their last 15 road games against the Golden Lions.

Pick: Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions -1.5 (-105)