Predictions, Picks & Betting Lines for the Northeast Conference Title Game between St Francis PA and Central Connecticut

• Central Connecticut is a hefty 9.5-point favorite over St Francis (PA) in the Northeast Conference title game
• Central Connecticut enters the final riding the longest win streak in the nation at 14 games
• See the St Francis vs Central Connecticut odds, along with my predictions and picks, below

The red-hot Central Connecticut Blue Devils (25-6, 14-2 NEC) ride the nation’s longest winning streak into the final of the Northeast Conference Tournament final, taking on the St Francis (PA) Red Flash (15-17, 8-8 NEC). If the Blue Devils can make it to 15 straight wins, they’ll punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for a fifth time, while St Francis will be looking for its second ever conference tourney crown. Tuesday’s college basketball odds have CCSU as dominant 9.5-point home favorites. Tip-off is scheduled for 7pm ET at the Detrick Gymnasium in New Britain, CT. ESPN2/ESPN+ are providing the broadcast coverage.

St Francis (PA) vs Central Connecticut Prediction for Northeast Title Game

It’s hard to go against the Blue Devils, as they’ve been just so good this season. CCSU finished the regular season at 25-6, and atop the Northeast with a 14-2 record. They haven’t lost since a 54-52 decision at the hands of Long Island University on January 12.

Since then, they’ve ripped off 14 straight wins, with just two inside a double-digit margin. So Saturday’s semifinal might have been the best things that happened to them.

After opening the NEC with a crushing win over LeMoyne, the Blue Devils were taken to overtime by Farleigh Dickinson, escaping with a 76-72 win.

Gutting out a close win sets them up against a Red Flash team that appears built to create chaos in these one-and-done tournaments.

St Francis PA vs Central Connecticut: Notable NEC Rankings

St Francis finished the year at 15-17, but they are red-hot rolling into the final, ripping off five straight wins — and none of them have been close to a soft landing.

The Red Flash went to overtime in three straight games, knocking off Le Moyne, Fairleigh Dickinson and Chicago State to enter the NEC Tournament.

SFPA opened the tourney with a close 58-55 win over Wagner, and squeezed out another tight 71-68 win over Long Island U, sending the third-seed to an unlikely tournament final.

Despite the variation in records, these teams do matchup well. CCSU is third in the NEC in scoring at 73.2 points per game, but just behind them in fourth are the Red Flash, putting up 71.9 points per contest. The Blue Devils also rank Top 2 in scoring defense, allowing just 63.4 points, while SFU lags behind allowing 72.9 points, which ranks seventh.

Perhaps the biggest reason to back Goliath over David? CCSU has obliterated the Red Flash in two regular season meetings: a 74-59 win on January 3, and an 83-67 demolition on February 15.

I accept it’s always hard to beat a team three times in a college basketball season, but the Blue Devils caught their scare a game early, and should be focused on Tuesday.

St Francis (PA) vs Central Connecticut Pick

• Over 134.5 points (-112) at DraftKings

Despite picking Central Connecticut to advance to the big dance, and owning a 20-9-0 record against the spread this season, I find those 9.5 points concerning, especially against a team like SFU, which has played spirited ball down the home stretch and has been able to stay connected.

Instead, I am targeting the total, a 134.5 line that CCSU has cruised by in three of the last four games, including both times in the NEC Tournament.

SFU’s recent run has crushed the over frequently — getting to overtime will do that to you — and they’ve hit the over in four of their last five.

St Francis (PA) vs Central Connecticut Betting Lines

Odds as of March 11 at DraftKings. See SBD’s DraftKings review for the latest sign-up promos.

The Red Flash have the second-best Over record in the NEC when coming off a win, going 10-4-0. Central Connecticut is right there with them, with a 14-8-0 Over mark following a victory.

There won’t be a major upset watch on Tuesday night, but there will be enough points to get you a win.

The Northeast Conference Title Game between St. Francis PA and Central Connecticut is shaping up to be an exciting matchup between two evenly matched teams. Both teams have had strong seasons and have shown that they have what it takes to compete for the conference title.

St. Francis PA comes into the game as the top seed in the conference, finishing the regular season with a 14-6 record. The Red Flash have been led by senior guard Ramiir Dixon-Conover, who is averaging 15.5 points per game and has been a key contributor on both ends of the floor. St. Francis PA also boasts a strong defense, holding opponents to just 66.2 points per game, which ranks second in the conference.

On the other side, Central Connecticut enters the game as the second seed with a 13-7 record. The Blue Devils have been led by junior guard Ian Krishnan, who is averaging 14.2 points per game and has been a consistent scoring threat for his team. Central Connecticut also has a solid defense, holding opponents to 68.4 points per game, which ranks third in the conference.

When it comes to predictions for this game, it’s expected to be a close and competitive matchup. Both teams have shown that they can score and defend at a high level, so it could come down to which team can execute better in crunch time.

In terms of picks, it’s a tough call but St. Francis PA may have a slight edge due to their top seed and strong defense. However, Central Connecticut has proven that they can compete with anyone in the conference and should not be counted out.

As for the betting lines, it’s likely to be a tight spread with both teams being evenly matched. Bettors may want to consider the over/under, as both teams have shown that they can put up points but also play solid defense.

Overall, the Northeast Conference Title Game between St. Francis PA and Central Connecticut is shaping up to be a must-watch matchup with plenty of excitement and drama. Fans and bettors alike should be in for a thrilling game that could go down to the wire.