🏀 Furman vs. UConn Prediction, Picks & Parlay: March Madness First Round Odds Tonight

No. 15 Furman looks to channel its 2023 upset magic tonight against No. 2 UConn in a first-round matchup at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The Huskies are 21.5-point favorites ahead of a 10 p.m. ET tip on TBS, though UConn enters having gone just 2-2 in its last four games.

My best Furman vs. UConn prediction expects SoCon Tournament MVP Alex Wilkins to help the Paladins keep this one closer than the spread suggests. My March Madness predictions also target a Silas Demary Jr. assists prop, banking on the UConn guard to feast against a lesser defensive opponent.

🏀 Furman vs. UConn picks & odds: March Madness First Round

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💵 Latest Furman vs. UConn odds & betting splits

Latest Furman vs. UConn odds and betting splits via BetMGM.

UConn is drawing 60% of spread bets, and the line has grown from 18.5 to 21.5 as the public continues to back the Huskies. The moneyline split is heavily skewed toward Furman at 90%, though that's driven by the extreme -5000 price on UConn rather than genuine upset confidence. Seventy percent of bets are on the Over despite the total ticking down from 136.5 to 135.5.

🏆 Who will win Furman vs. UConn?

I'm taking UConn to win this game by 16 points because of Furman's struggles on both sides of the ball. UConn is just 2-2 in its last four games, too inconsistent to trust covering a 20.5-point spread.

Score prediction: UConn 71, Furman 55

💰 Furman vs. UConn prediction & best bet

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Under 136.5 (-110)

UConn has held seven consecutive opponents to 72 or fewer. Additionally, the Huskies rank 11th in adjusted defensive rating, according to KenPom, and are allowing just 65.1 points per game.

Furman ranks 49th in the nation in shooting percentage, but the Paladins rely way too much on 3-pointers, knocking down 8.9 per game. The problem is that they don't shoot well from long range, ranking 260th in the nation in 3-point percentage.

Considering UConn has the 23rd-best 3-point shooting defense and 19th-best shooting defense, I don't expect Furman to score enough to offset UConn's recent offensive struggles.

🔥 Best Furman vs. UConn player prop bet

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Silas Demary Jr. Over 6.5 assists (+102)

It was a rough Big East Tournament for Demary, who managed just eight assists in three games.

However, he's still averaging 6.2 assists per game, 3.5 more than any other UConn player, and he's recorded at least eight assists in five of his last 10 games.

Demary played five games against non-power conference teams this season, recording at least seven assists in three of those contests. And while Furman is allowing just 11.9 assists per game (65th in the nation), most of their success came in a conference where only one opponent averaged more than 15 assists per game.

UConn ranks ninth in the country, averaging 18.4 per contest. 

🚀 Furman vs. UConn same-game parlay

For Furman to keep this game close, it will have to be a low-scoring contest. Based on how UConn has played recently, it's hard to trust the Huskies offense, but there is also no reason to expect one of the lowest-scoring teams in the SoCon to score more than 60 or so.

But what really elevates the odds for this parlay is the contradiction: this will be a low-scoring game where Furman covers, yet Demary will still get more than 6.5 assists.

Demary has been that good all season, and had he not struggled in the Big East Tournament, there's no way his odds would be as good as they are now. Luckily for him, Furman isn't Big East competition.

💵 My betting record for college basketball

All college basketball picks, including SGPs, have been tracked since March 13.

💡 How I'm betting Furman vs. UConn: March Madness strategy

After reviewing the latest March Madness betting trends and March Madness rosters, I just don't see how these teams produce more than 136.5 points.

I'm only betting one unit in case the Huskies release all their frustration, but ultimately I think it will be low-scoring enough that Furman also covers.

However, if I'm wrong about the total, I'm probably going to be wrong about the spread. My most confident bet is on Demary to get more than 6.5 assists because the price is great and the latest odds are undervaluing his early-season success against lesser competition.

📊 Live Furman vs. UConn odds: March Madness First Round

UConn's spread has ballooned from its 18.5 opener to 21.5 at BetMGM. The total has drifted slightly from 136.5 down to 135.5, with 70% of bets on the Over despite UConn holding seven consecutive opponents to 72 or fewer points. That Over action hasn't been enough to push the number back up.

📈 Furman vs. UConn betting trends

📺 How to watch Furman vs. UConn: March Madness First Round

• Date: Friday, March 20
• Tipoff: 10 p.m. ET
• Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena (Philadelphia)
• TV: TBS
• Streaming: March Madness Live

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