St. Louis vs. Davidson Prediction, Preview, and Odds – 1-27-2023

Once Upon A Time In Las Vegas – Championship Sunday

The Saint Louis Billikens and Davidson Wildcats will take the floor on Friday at McKillop Court at John M. Belk Arena. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. ET. Saint Louis is a one-point favorite and the game total is 144 points.

Saint Louis, 14-6 SU and 9-10 ATS, defeated La Salle in its last game. The Billikens are 5-0 in their past five. Davidson, 10-10 SU and 10-9 ATS, lost to Rhode Island in its last game. The Wildcats are 2-3 in their past five.

Davidson beat Saint Louis twice last season. The Wildcats are 8-2 overall versus the Billikens.

Saint Louis has won five straight and is a half-game back from first place in the Atlantic-10. The Billikens were picked to finish second in the A-10 preseason poll and received seven first-place votes.

Saint Louis beat La Salle 84-71 on Saturday, shooting 48.4 percent from the field, including 7-for-17 from three. The Billikens outrebounded the Explorers 47-42, with 13 offensive rebounds. Saint Louis only led by one point at halftime but ran away with the game after that, scoring 51 second-half points.

The Billikens average 76.9 points per game (70th) on 46.1 percent shooting (94th), including 34.5 percent from behind the arc (167th). They convert 73.0 percent of their free throws (124th) and average 37.0 rebounds (12th) with a +5.9 rebounding margin. Saint Louis is 50th nationally in schedule-adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom.

Sophomore guard Gibson Jimerson paces the Billikens, averaging 12.7 points per game. Other players to watch are guard Yuri Collins (12.1 PPG and 10.6 APG) and guard Javonte Perkins (11.2 PPG).

The Billikens surrender 70.6 points per game (219th) on 40.2 percent shooting (37th), including 33.0 percent from three (162nd). They're 137th in schedule-adjusted defensive efficiency and 26th in assist-per-turnover ratio (1.39).

  
Read Full Article