Coppin State vs Norfolk State Odds and Picks – MEAC Championship Game
By Chris Amberley in College Basketball
Published:
- The Coppin State vs Norfolk State odds favor the Spartans by 7-points on Saturday (March 12) at 1pm ET
- Norfolk State is the defending champ, while Coppin State is looking for its first MEAC title since 2008
- Read below for the Coppin State vs Norfolk State odds, analysis, and betting prediction
There’s a fairy tale story brewing at the MEAC Tournament. Coppin State, who finished the season with the second-worst record in the conference, is one more upset win away from an improbable MEAC Title.
The Wildcats stunned the second seed Howard at the buzzer in the quarterfinals, and followed that upset victory by defeating third seed North Carolina Central in the semis.
Now, the only thing standing between them and their first March Madness bid since 2008 is the defending champs and top seed from Norfolk State.
Coppin State vs Norfolk State Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coppin State Eagles | OFF | +7 (-110) | O 136.5 (-110) |
| Norfolk State Spartans | OFF | -7 (-110) | U 136.5 (-110) |
Odds as of March 11th at BetMGM.
The Spartans opened up as a 7-point favorite, in a game that features a total of 136.5. Tipoff is scheduled for 1pm ET at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. The complex is roughly 2 miles away from the Norfolk State campus meaning it’s going to feel like a home game for the favored Spartans.
Norfolk State Betting Analysis
The Spartans kicked off the MEAC Tournament as the overwhelming favorite. They were -250 to cut down the nets before the action started, and while they’ve made the championship game it’s been a bit more of a struggle than most would have expected.
Behold!!!!!! @NSU_BBALL https://t.co/vYnjyE2FFn
— AdmissionsNSU (@AdmissionsNsu) March 10, 2022
Norfolk State took one Delaware State in quarterfinal action, the only MEAC team who didn’t register a victory in conference play. The Spartans swept the regular-season series against the Hornets but found themselves ahead by just a single point at the half. A second-half surge propelled them to a 74-66 victory and a spot in the semis, but they fell well short of covering the 16-point spread.
They followed up that win on Friday by taking down Morgan State, the fourth seed, but once again they got off to a slow start. The game was tied at 28 at the break, but the Spartans put their foot on the gas over the final 20 minutes to win 72-63, and cover the 6-point number.
Spartans move on! The NSU men AND women will both be competing for MEAC Tournament titles afternoon at the Scope.
Joe Bryant and Jalen Hawkins led the way with 19 points each, and Dana Tate added 14 points and 11 rebounds.
FINAL | @NSU_BBALL 72, MSU 63#SpartanStrong💪 #DIALED
— Norfolk State Athletics (@NSUSpartans) March 12, 2022
Joe Bryant Jr. and Jalen Hawkins, two of the conference’s top seven scorers, led the way with 19 points each, while the team shot 51%.
Defensively, they clamped down on the Bears, holding them to 38% from the field. That type of performance is nothing new as Norfolk State was easily the best defense in the MEAC this season. They ranked first in scoring defense, defensive rating, and opponent field goal percentage, and held Coppin State to 59 points in their last meeting.
Coppin State Eagles Betting Analysis
The Eagles began the conference tournament with +2000 to bring home the title. Their victory over Howard was about as dramatic as it gets, as Nendah Tarke hit a jumper from the top of the key to break a 57-57 tie as time expired.
COPPIN STATE GETS THE BUZZER-BEATER TO GO 😱@CoppinMBB pic.twitter.com/f0sAEcBtHG
— ESPN (@espn) March 10, 2022
It was actually their third straight win over the Bison this season, so perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised even though they are the seventh seed. They were 0-2 versus their semifinal opponent North Carolina Central heading into their semifinal matchup but led for the entire game en route to a 79-73 victory.
1️⃣ more! #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/36kG1zs2Ri
— CoppinMBB (@CoppinMBB) March 12, 2022
Coppin State boasted the conference’s worst scoring defense, and second-worst defensive rating this season, but you’d never know it by watching them play this week. They held Howard to 29.5% from the field, while forcing 23 turnovers. One night later, they limited NCCU to 41% shooting, while forcing 14 more turnovers.
Now, they face the conference juggernaut who they also struggled against this season. Coppin State was 0-2 against Norfolk State, dropping their last meeting by 30 points.
Coppin State vs Norfolk State Betting Analysis
As nice a story as the Eagles are, they’re about to come crashing to a halt. They’re back on the court a mere 14 hours following their semifinal victory, and will be playing in front of a rowdy, pro-Spartans crowd.
They were able to suffocate Howard and outscore North Carolina Central, but it’s hard to imagine them being able to do either against Norfolk State, a team that ranks 132 spots higher per KenPom.
The Spartans were 5-2-1 against the spread at home this season and 4-1 ATS at neutral sites. This may be a neutral site game, but it might as well be a home game. Take Norfolk to win big and repeat as conference champs.
Pick: Norfolk State -7 (-110)
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Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
