Wagner vs. Howard Prediction & March Madness Odds: Bison Favorite in 1st First Four Matchup
March Madness 2024 opens with the Wagner Seahawks taking on the Howard Bison in the first of Tuesday's two First Four games, and we offer our best Wagner vs. Howard prediction based on the best March Madness odds.
The first game of March Madness features two 16 seeds looking for their first-ever win in the NCAA Tournament. Wagner (16-15) and Howard (18-16) will meet in the West Region's First Four contest on Tuesday evening for the right to face No. 1 seed North Carolina in the field of 64.
Our best sports betting apps favor the Bison to triumph in Tuesday's tournament opener. Kansas defeated Howard in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Seahawks are making their first tournament appearance since 2003 and look to evade an early exit in their comeback journey.
To accompany our Colorado State vs. Virginia prediction and other March Madness predictions, here is our best Wagner vs. Howard prediction and college basketball picks (odds via our best March Madness betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Wagner vs. Howard odds
Wagner (16) vs. Howard (16) prediction: West Region
Wagner +3.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best odds: -110 via FanDuel
This is a matchup between two very flawed teams that were fortunate to win their respective conference tournaments. And I'm a little surprised to see our best sportsbooks take such a clear stance in favor of Howard.
Yes, the Bison are the (slightly) better team on paper, having won two more games with a slightly higher net efficiency on the season. But they also have one of the worst defenses in the nation and turn it over on 21.7% of their possessions - by far the worst mark of any team in the tournament.
Those live-ball turnovers are the perfect way to spark a Wagner offense that struggles to score in the half court. It's also especially costly given that the Seahawks feature the second-slowest tempo of any team in the country, magnifying every wasted possession for Howard's offense.
Fittingly, Wagner also ranks 10th in opponent 3-point percentage (29.8%), which is the perfect counter for a Howard offense predicated on the long ball. The Bison also thrive on grabbing their own misses, but the Seahawks are above-average on the glass and feature similar size in their rotation to Howard.
Given that Wagner is also the healthier team coming into this matchup, gimme the points in a First Four matchup that could easily go either way.
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Wagner vs. Howard best odds
FanDuel (-110)
| DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Caesars | bet365 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wagner +3 | Wagner +3.5 | Wagner +3.5 | Wagner +3 | Wagner +3 |
| -108 | -110 | -115 | -110 | -110 |
In a matchup between two teams that barely made the field, our best sports betting apps are clearly siding with favorite Howard. For those backing the underdog, FanDuel is offering a the best value at +3.5, overgaking BetMGM's -115.
I'd bet the Seahawks at anything +2.5 or better, but it's absolutely worth grabbing the best odds at FanDuel. Remember to check out our best sportsbook promos, too, especially with so many March Madness bonuses available this time of year.
Wagner vs. Howard spread & Over/Under analysis
When this matchup was first announced, Howard immediately opened as the betting favorite across our best sports betting sites, laying anywhere from 2.5 to 3.5 points as of Monday afternoon. That feels like too big of a spread against a Wagner team that matches up well with Tuesday's opponent.
The total also saw a wide range across our top shops, dealing anywhere from 127 to 128.5 in the early hours of wagering. The total has since landed between 128 and 128.5 at our best sports betting apps. That's nearly 10 points lower than the early projections for this matchup, so don't be surprised if that total creeps up ahead of Tuesday's tip-off.
Wagner vs. Howard game info
- When: Tuesday, March 19
- Tip-off: 6:40 p.m. ET
- Where: University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Oh.
- How to watch: truTV
Wagner-Howard prediction made Sunday at 9 p.m. ET.
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