Furman vs San Diego State Odds, Spread & Predictions (March 18)
- Furman faces San Diego State in the second round of March Madness on Saturday, March 18
- The #13 Paladins upset Virginia on Thursday while the #5 Aztecs topped Charleston
- Read on for all the Furman vs San Diego State odds and predictions
The Furman Paladins look to build on their first win at the NCAA Tournament in 49 years when they take on the San Diego State Aztecs on Saturday in South Region second-round action.
Start time for Saturday afternoon’s matchup is set for 12:10pm ET at Amway Center in Orlando, with all the action televised on CBS.
Furman vs San Diego State Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| [13] Furman Paladins | +5.5 (-102) | +202 | O 137.5 (-115) |
| [5] San Diego State | -5.5 (-120) | -250 | U 137.5 (-105) |
Editor’s note: the moneyline odds have been moving in Furman’s favor. As of Saturday morning, Furman’s odds to win had improved to +190, with SDSU at -240. The spread was still 5.5 and the total 137.5.
The Aztecs have emerged as 5.5-point favorites in the March Madness odds. The Paladins are listed as +202 moneyline underdogs, and the total is pegged at 137.5 with the OVER shortening to -115.
Odds as of March 17, 2023 at FanDuel Sportsbook. See full list of March Madness betting promos.
The No. 13 seed in the South, the Paladins trailed by as many as 12 points after recess before storming back to claim victory on a JP Pegues three-pointer in the dying seconds, and have now won seven in a row.
The fifth-seeded Aztecs had their hands full early on against Charleston on Thursday, but took control after recess on their way to a 63-57 win and their first opening round victory at March Madness since 2015.
Furman vs San Diego State March Madness History
Saturday afternoon’s matchup marks the first ever meeting between these teams. The Paladins laid claim to a March Madness berth for the first time in 43 years by finishing atop the Southern Conference standings with a 15-3 SU record, and subsequently marching to the Southern Conference Tournament title with three wins.
The Aztecs’ victory over College of Charleston leaves them poised to return to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2014. Overall, SDSU has suffered just three defeats in 24 contests since mid-December, and has gone 9-2 ATS in their past 11 while favored by five or more points.
Furman’s Final Four odds improved to +15000 to +3000 after their stunning comeback victory.
Opportunistic Paladins Frustrate Cavs in Upset Win
Not known for a dominating defense this season, the Paladins managed to consistently frustrate Virginia, particularly after recess, on their way to Thursday’s stunning 68-67 upset victory. The Cavaliers dominated in the paint in the first half while going 46% from the field, but caused headaches for Virginia in the second half. Down by 12, the Paladins changed to a zone defense, and quickly closed the gap on the Cavaliers, who shot just 2-for-12 from beyond the arc on the day.
FURMAN!!!!! MARCH IS THE GREATEST THING EVER pic.twitter.com/9EMSqNCibI
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 16, 2023
With the victory, the Paladins have now limited opponents to fewer than 70 points in nine of 13 outings. Up front, senior Jalen Slawson led an opportunistic Furman attack, potting a game-high 19 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Slawson has now averaged 18 points and eight boards over his past three games, and recorded nine double-doubles this season.
Aztecs Survive First-Round Challenge from Charleston
The Cougars gave the Aztecs a good run for their money in First Round action. Charleston managed to keep things close over the first 20 minutes, but were unable to keep pace after the break as SDSU ended its three-game losing streak at the NCAA Tournament. Indeed, Thursday’s contest was not as close as the score indicated, with the Aztecs forcing to Charleston to rely heavily on three-point shooting while converting on just 32.1% from the floor.
Up front, leading scorer Matt Bradley was the lone Aztecs shooter to reach double digits, tallying 17 points and seven boards. Big man Jaedon Ledee got things done coming off the bench, scoring eight points and recording eight rebounds for the second time in as many games.
Furman vs San Diego State Prediction
Opportunity knocks for the Paladins on Saturday, if they can continue to effectively adapt their defense on the fly to rapidly changing game situations. The challenge for Furman is to find a way to generate offense against an Aztecs squad that has limited opponents to just 54.8 points per game during a 5-0 SU run. That sets the stage for a low-scoring affair, with all the pressure squarely placed on SDSU’s back.
The Pick: Paladins +5.5 (-102); UNDER 137.5 (-110)
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Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
