Furman vs. Penn State Prediction and Odds for Thursday, November 17 (Experienced Guards Lead Potent Offenses)
By Josh Yourish
It’s not quite the Bahamas or Maui, but Charleston, South Carolina in November isn’t too bad. That’s where Penn State and Furman will participate in the Charleston Classic this week. The Furman Paladins are 2-0 on the young season with wins over North Greenville and Belmont. The Nittany Lions have tested themselves a bit more on their way to 3-0, last defeating Butler, 68-62 on Monday.
These have been two high scoring teams to start the year, maybe we’ll get fireworks in Charleston. Let’s take a look at the odds and see what Vegas thinks about this one.
Furman vs. Penn State Odds, Spread and Total
Furman vs. Penn State Prediction and Pick
Furman will have the best player on the court in this game, Mike Bothwell. The fifth-year senior was a finalist for the mid-major player of the year award last season and has started this year scoring 25 points against Belmont. Furman hasn’t just won its two games, it has scored 91 and 89 points. That doesn’t appear fluky because the team is only shooting 29.5% from 3. If it had been hitting all of its shots on the way to those blowout wins it would be easier to write off, but this offense looks real.
On the other hand, Penn State is 3-0, but it is staring 3-point shooting regression in the face. The Nittany Lions have hit nearly half of their shots from behind the arc in three games, 47.8%. That is a ridiculous number that will not continue this year. Jalen Pickett is the Nittany Lions leading scorer as a super senior and he will have to go toe-to-toe with Bothwell for Penn State to win it.
Because of possible shooting regression and Bothwell, I lean Furman to win outright as a small underdog, but with two experienced guards leading teams that have put up points to start the year, my favorite play is the over even with a high total.
Pick: Over 140.5 (-110)
Follow all Josh Yourish’s bets HERE
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change