- American is a 2.5-point home favorite over Navy in Wednesday’s Patriot League Championship game
- The 5th-seeded Midshipmen are looking to pull off another upset after knocking off top-seeded Bucknell
- Read on for my Navy vs American prediction and betting breakdown
The Patriot League will crown a champion on Wednesday as the 5th-seeded Navy Midshipmen (15-18, 10-8 Patriot) battle the 2nd-seeded American Eagles (21-12, 13-5 Patriot). The winner punches their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
Navy is fresh off a stunning 83-77 upset over top-seeded Bucknell in the semifinals, while American held off a pesky Colgate squad 72-62.
Tip-off for this win-or-go-home matchup is set for 7 p.m. ET at Bender Arena in Washington, D.C. CBS Sports Network will televise the action.
Navy vs American Odds
The Eagles are currently 2.5-point home favorites with the total set at 132.5 points. On the moneyline, American is listed at -155 odds, meaning you’d need to risk $155 to win $100.
The Midshipmen are +130 underdogs – a $100 bet would net you $130 if they pull off the upset. Our college basketball public betting trends show 53% of spread bets are backing Navy to cover the short number.
Odds current as of March 11 at DraftKings. See our full list of the DraftKings legal states.
Navy vs American Prediction (Patriot League Championship)
Don’t let Navy’s 15-18 record fool you – this team is playing its best basketball of the season at the perfect time. The Midshipmen have won three straight games, including impressive victories over higher seeds Boston University and Bucknell. Junior guard Austin Benigni has been the catalyst, averaging 21.3 points over his last 10 games while shooting 39.1% from the field.
Meanwhile, American boasts a lethal 14-1 record at Bender Arena this season. The Eagles are led by senior forward Matt Rogers, who paces the team in both scoring (16.8 ppg) and rebounding (5.5 RPG).
American’s calling card is its stingy defense, which ranks 59th in the nation allowing just 67.7 points per game. In two regular season meetings with Navy, the Eagles earned a split, with each team winning on its home floor.
Navy vs American KenPom Stats
According to KenPom, these two teams are pretty evenly matched. American has a slight edge in overall ranking and defensive efficiency, while Navy plays at a significantly faster adjusted tempo. The Midshipmen will look to speed up the pace and turn this into a track meet. On the other side, expect the Eagles to try to ugly things up and turn it into a grind-it-out defensive battle.
In a game that could go either way, I’ll side with American’s considerable home-court advantage. The Eagles are a perfect 3-0 against the spread at Bender Arena in their last three lined games. They are also more well rested playing a third straight home game, while Navy will be playing their third consecutive road contest.
Navy vs American Pick
- American -2.5 (-110) at DraftKings
For my Navy vs American pick, I believe the Eagles’ stifling defense and strong home-court advantage will be too much for the Midshipmen to overcome. American has held its last five opponents under 70 points, going 4-1 in those contests. The Eagles should be able to control the tempo and prevent Navy from getting out in transition.
Give me American -2.5 as my best bet. The Midshipmen have had an impressive run to get here, but I think they’ll fall just short of completing the Cinderella story. Back the Eagles to cut down the nets on their home floor and punch their ticket to the Big Dance for the first time since 2009.
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The Patriot League Championship is set to take place between Navy and American, two powerhouse teams in the conference. Both teams have had impressive seasons so far, and fans are eagerly anticipating this exciting matchup.
Navy comes into the championship game as the top seed, boasting a 15-3 record in conference play. Led by star players like John Carter Jr. and Greg Summers, Navy has been dominant on both ends of the court this season. Their strong defense has stifled opponents, while their efficient offense has been able to put up points in bunches.
On the other hand, American has had a solid season as well, finishing with a 12-6 record in conference play. The Eagles are led by standout guard Jamir Harris, who has been a scoring machine for American all season long. With a balanced attack and solid defense, American will be looking to pull off the upset and secure the Patriot League Championship title.
In terms of predictions, this game is shaping up to be a close one. Navy may have the edge as the top seed, but American has proven that they can compete with the best teams in the conference. It will likely come down to which team can execute their game plan better and make key plays down the stretch.
As for picks, Navy is the safer bet given their strong season and top seed status. However, American should not be counted out, as they have the talent and ability to pull off the upset. It will be a thrilling game that could go either way.
In terms of odds, Navy is currently favored to win the championship game, with odds of -150. American is the underdog with odds of +120. These odds reflect the competitive nature of this matchup and the uncertainty of who will come out on top.
Overall, fans can expect an intense and exciting game between Navy and American in the Patriot League Championship. Both teams have worked hard to get to this point, and they will leave it all on the court in pursuit of the title. It’s sure to be a game that fans won’t want to miss.