Furman vs Wofford Basketball Prediction & Picks: Paladins primed for fourth straight road win

With a fairly light Sunday college basketball schedule, there aren’t a lot of games that really stand out today. But one of the more interesting matchups of the day sees Furman (14-6, 5-2 Southern Conference) visit Wofford (11-9, 3-4 Southern Conference) in nationally-televised SoCon action (4:00 pm ET, ESPNU).

The Paladins, who are looking for their fourth straight road win, are third in the SoCon standings behind Samford (14-7, 8-0) and UNC Greensboro (13-8, 7-1), while the Terriers are sixth.

With Samford (home) and UNC Greensboro (away) up next on Furman’s schedule, the Paladins will want to go into a pivotal week in a good position to shake up the standings. But will they leave Spartanburg with a win? Read on for our Furman vs Wofford basketball prediction and picks.

Furman vs Wofford Odds

Odds are via BetOnline as of Sunday, January 22, 2023, at 11:37 am ET. This article may also include odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites.

Spread

• Furman -4.5 (-110)
• Wofford +4.5 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 146.5 (-110)
• Under 146.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Furman -196
• Wofford +162

Prolific Paladins Look to Continue Scoring Exploits

Last time out, Furman picked up a 77-69 win at Chattanooga on Wednesday, in the first meeting between the two teams since their thriller in last season’s SoCon tournament title tilt.

By their usual standards, it was a subpar scoring performance by the Paladins, who are 19th in the country in scoring at 81.7 points per game.

Offensive Statistics and Metrics for Furman

• PPG: 81.7 (17th in Division I & 1st in the 10-team SoCon)
• FG%: 49.3% (12th in Division I)
• 3PT%: 35.6% (3rd in the SoCon)
• 2PT%: 60.9% (59.3% in Division I games only, which is 3rd in the country)
• FT%: 75.3% (41st in Division I)
• Offensive Efficiency (KenPom): 61st

In conference play, they are averaging exactly 80.0 PPG, and they have scored 80+ points four times in seven games.

Leading the way for Furman is guard Mike Bothwell (19.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.8 APG), who is second in the SoCon in scoring and is shooting 54.7% from the field this season.

Both Bothwell and forward Jalen Slawson (15.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.7 APG) have hit the 20-point mark in back-to-back games, while guard Marcus Foster (11.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 39.8% 3PT) has hit the 20-point mark three times in conference play.

Wofford, who is averaging 73.8 PPG, doesn’t compare in the scoring department, but the Terriers have a couple of solid scorers in senior forward B.J. Mack (15.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG) and freshman guard Jackson Paveletzke (13.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 40.0% 3PT).

Offensive Statistics and Metrics for Wofford

• PPG: 73.8 (5th in the SoCon)
• FG%: 46.7% (63rd in Division I)
• 3PT%: 32.6% (8th in the SoCon)
• 2PT%: 55.5% (53.6% in Division I games only, which is 55th in the country)
• FT%: 75.0% (tied for 45th in Division I)
• Offensive Efficiency: 129th

Neither of those players has led the Terriers in scoring in their last two games, however, as Carson McCorkle (6.0 PPG) had a season-high six threes and 22 points in their 86-67 win over VMI last weekend and Corey Tripp (9.5 PPG) had 19 points in Wednesday’s 76-71 loss at Western Carolina.

Furman vs Wofford Prediction and Picks

Furman vs Wofford Prediction: Furman to win

Furman vs Wofford Picks: Furman/Wofford first half over 69 (Best Value: Bovada Sportsbook) & Furman team total over 75.5 (Best Value: BetOnline)

Wofford lost by nine at home against UNC Greensboro and by 25 at Samford, and Furman, at minimum, is on the same level of those two teams.

There are some questions about the Paladins, who blew substantial leads in their losses at Western Carolina and at home to UNC Greensboro. This is certainly the kind of game in which they could easily trip themselves up.

But this is also a game that they should win if they play to the level that they have for the balance of conference play, and I expect them to do so.

That said, I don’t love the spread though, so I’m backing them to score 76+ points for the sixth time in conference play and the 15th time this season.

That scoring is a big reason why there have been 70+ combined points in the first half of five of their seven conference games, so my second pick for this one is the first half over, which I like a bit more than the full game over.