Western Carolina’s anemic offense, which rates 13.0 points per game worse than average, should have some success against a truly inept VMI stop unit that is allowing 81.2 points per game on the road.
Indeed, opponents are shooting 49.6% from the field and 38.6% from beyond the arc against the Keydets, while Southern Conference foes are making 48.0% of their field goal attempts and 37.2% of their three-pointers.
VMI ranks 338th in the nation in field goal percentage defense, 327th in scoring margin (-9.2) and 301st in scoring defense.
In contrast, Western Carolina actually possesses a decent defense that is 2.0 points per game better than average this season (73.4 points per game to teams that would combine to average 75.4 points per game).
The Catamounts are also limiting opponents to just 69.7 points per game at home this season (42.5% FG%; 36.1% 3-PT%). The Keydets won’t get many second-chance looks at the rim based upon the fact that they are 221st in the country in offensive rebounds per game, 305th in total rebounds per game (32.89), 314th in total rebounds and 313th in rebound margin (-4.4).
From a technical standpoint, VMI is a money-burning 2-6-1 ATS in its last eight road games, 1-6-1 ATS in its last eight games versus .499 or worse opposition and 0-4 ATS in its last four road tilts against foes with a home win percentage of .399 or worse.
In contrast, the Catamounts are a profitable 10-4 ATS in their last fourteen home games, 9-3 ATS in their last twelve games versus teams with a losing record, 5-0 ATS in their five games as favorites of 6.5-points or less and 6-1 ATS in their last seven home affairs versus teams with a losing road record.
With Western Carolina standing at 1-6 ATS in the last seven meetings in this series, take the Catamounts as Oskeim Sports’ Free Southern Conference Sports Pick for Monday, February 27.
Oskeim Sports’ Free Southern Conference Sports Pick: Western Carolina (-1.5)