The No. 16 seed Wagner Seahawks (16-15) and the No. 16 seed Howard Bison (18-16) play in a 2024 First Four showdown on Tuesday. Wagner, the winner of the Northeast Conference, is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003. Howard won the MEAC Tournament final, knocking off Delaware State 70-67 in the title game. The winner advances to face No. 1 seed North Carolina in a first-round game on Thursday.
Tipoff from the University of Dayton Arena in Ohio is set for 6:40 p.m. ET. The Bison are 3-point favorites in the latest Wagner vs. Howard odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 128. Before making any Howard vs. Wagner picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters the 2024 NCAA tournament on a 148-106 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It also has a strong 29-19 (+810) record on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Howard vs. Wagner in the First Four 2024. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Wagner vs. Howard:
- Wagner vs. Howard spread: Bison -3
- Wagner vs. Howard over/under: 128 points
- Wagner vs. Howard money line: Bison -162, Seahawks +136
- Wagner: 14-14-1 ATS this season
- Howard: 12-18-2 ATS this season
- Wagner vs. Howard picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Wagner can cover
Junior guard Tahron Allen provides Wagner with an effective and alert ball handler in the backcourt. The New York native averages 10.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He's scored 22 points in two of his last three games. On March 12, Allen had 22 points and seven boards.
Sophomore guard Julian Brown joins Allen in the backcourt. Brown has the ability to stretch the floor but also get past defenders. He logs 9.5 points and three rebounds per contest. On March 9, Brown dropped 20 points and three rebounds. The New York native has scored in double figures in four of his last eight games. See which team to pick at SportsLine.
Why Howard can cover
Senior forward Seth Towns gives the Bisons a strong scorer in the frontcourt. Towns has the length to shoot over defenders but will find his way into the paint. The Ohio native averages 14.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. In the MEAC Championship Game versus Delaware State, Towns had 16 points and eight boards.
Guard Marcus Dockery provides the Bisons with a three-level scorer. Dockery owns a quick release and excels in catch-and-shoot situations. The Washington D.C. native logs 13.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and shoots 41.2% from downtown. He's scored 15-plus points in three of his last four games. On Mar. 15, Dockery recorded 19 points and went 5-of-6 from 3-point land. See which team to pick at SportsLine.
How to make Howard vs. Wagner picks
The model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 139 points. It also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Wagner vs. Howard, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the computer model that is 29-19 on top-rated college basketball spread picks this season.
