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Winthrop Favored, But Can They Cover?
6 Mar
Summary
- Charleston Southern enters as a +4.5 underdog against Winthrop.
- The Buccaneers have a strong 9-6 record against the spread as underdogs.
- Winthrop struggles to cover spreads when favored, going 7-15 this season.
The Charleston Southern Buccaneers are set to challenge the No. 2-seeded Winthrop Eagles in a pivotal Big South Quarterfinal game this Friday afternoon. While Winthrop enters as the favorite, their performance against the spread has been inconsistent, covering only seven times in 22 games when favored this season. The Buccaneers, meanwhile, have demonstrated a knack for performing well as underdogs, boasting a 9-6 record against the spread in such situations.
Charleston Southern closed the regular season strongly, securing victories in four of their last six games. Their junior guard, Sumler, has been a standout player, averaging 18.8 points per game and notably scoring 20 points against Winthrop in their last encounter, averaging 21.0 points per game against the Eagles this season. The Buccaneers employ a fast-paced offense, ranking 14th in adjusted tempo, which helps them overcome a high turnover rate.
Historically, the two matchups between these teams this season have been extremely close, decided by margins of four and two points. Winthrop itself has experienced numerous close games, with 11 decided by four or fewer points, including four consecutive conference games. Considering Winthrop's struggles to cover the spread as a favorite and the consistently close nature of their previous games, there appears to be a viable path for Charleston Southern to cover the +4.5 point spread in this quarterfinal battle. The Eagles' No. 143 ranking in KenPom further suggests they may be a 'fade' candidate in this matchup.
