After knocking off the top seed in the semifinals, the fifth-seeded Saint Peter's Peacocks will take aim at the second-seeded Fairfield Stags when they meet in Saturday's 2024 MAC Tournament championship game. Fairfield is looking for its first MAAC title since 1997, while Saint Peter's last won it in 2022 before going on a stunning run to the Elite Eight. The Peacocks (18-13, 12-8 MAAC), who have been red hot, winning seven of nine, ousted top-seed Quinnipiac 62-60 on Friday. The Stags (22-11, 14-6 MAAC), who have won seven of eight and 10 of 12, outlasted Marist 65-61 in Friday's other semifinal.
The game from the Jim Whealon Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET. Saint Peter's is averaging 65.4 points per game, while Fairfield averages 76.5. The Stags are 3-point favorites in the latest Saint Peter's vs. Fairfield odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 128. Before making any Fairfield vs. Saint Peter's picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the proven SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters 2024 conference championship week on a 145-104 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 28-18 (+820) record on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Saint Peter's vs. Fairfield and revealed its CBB picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Fairfield vs. Saint Peter's:
- Saint Peter's vs. Fairfield spread: Fairfield -3
- Saint Peter's vs. Fairfield over/under: 128 points
- Saint Peter's vs. Fairfield money line: Fairfield -147, Saint Peter's +125
- STP: The Peacocks are 19-11 against the spread this season
- FAIR: The Stags are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games
- Saint Peter's vs. Fairfield picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Fairfield can cover
Senior guard Brycen Goodine is one of three Stags who are averaging 10 or more points. In 29 games, including seven starts, Goodine is averaging 14.4 points, three rebounds and 1.5 assists in 26 minutes of action. He is connecting on 51.6% of his field goals, including a blistering 48.4% from 3-point range, and 76.2% from the free-throw line. In a 74-62 win over Canisius on March 7, he poured in 37 points, while adding two rebounds. He followed that up with a 25-point effort in a 96-92 win at Mount St. Mary's on March 9.
Junior guard Jasper Floyd is another weapon for Fairfield. In 32 games, including 30 starts, he is averaging 9.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.4 steals in 31.6 minutes. He has reached double-digit scoring in 13 games, including a season-high 25 points in a 75-71 win at Yale on Dec. 6. He has registered one double-double on the year, a 13-point, 10-rebound effort in a 78-72 win over Le Moyne on Dec. 30. See which team to pick here.
Why Saint Peter's can cover
Sophomore forward Corey Washington has reached double-digit scoring in 14 of the past 15 games, including in two games against regular-season champion Quinnipiac. In Friday's tournament semifinal win over the Bobcats, he finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. He poured in 21 points and grabbed seven boards in an 89-74 loss to Quinnipiac in the regular-season finale. In 23 games, including 20 starts, Washington is averaging 16.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 28.1 minutes.
Also helping power the Peacocks is senior Latrell Reid, who has scored 10 or more points 21 times, including two games with 20 or more. He has two double-doubles on the year, the last coming in an 89-57 win over Manhattan on March 3. In that game, he scored 15 points, while dishing out 17 assists. In 30 games, all starts, Reid is averaging 11.3 points, 4.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds and one steal in 32.6 minutes. See which team to pick here.
How to make Saint Peter's vs. Fairfield picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 136 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Fairfield vs. Saint Peter's, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned more than $1,700 on its college basketball picks this season, and find out.
