Delaware State vs Howard Predictions, Picks, and Odds: A Cinderella Story Reaches Its Conclusion

After winning just eight games in Stan Waterman’s first two seasons at the helm, the Delaware State Hornets have pulled off two upsets in the MEAC Tournament to reach the final against No. 4 seed Howard Bison.

While the Hornets are just 15-17 this season, the college basketball odds have them as only a 2.5-point underdog to the Bisons, who are an unspectacular 17-16. Neither team was supposed to make it this far and it should make for an ugly, low-scoring game.

With March Madness odds around the corner, find out where my best bets lie in our college basketball picks and predictions for Delaware State vs. Howard on Saturday, March 16.

Delaware State vs Howard best odds

Delaware State vs Howard picks and predictions

If Delaware State wins the MEAC Tournament and reaches March Madness, it will be one of the most surprising stories in mid-major college basketball this season. In the Hornets’ 50-plus years in the MEAC, they’ve never qualified for the tournament.

The program hasn’t finished above .500 since it went 15-14 in 2011-12 and hasn’t won more than six games since 2016-17. It’s a true Cinderella story that Stan Waterman’s team has been able to upset No. 3-seed South Carolina State and No. 2-seed North Carolina Central.

It isn’t quite as shocking to see Howard in this position, though the Bison did take down top-seeded Norfolk State to get to the championship game. Led by head coach Kenneth Blakeney, the Bison were the best program in the MEAC last season — winning the regular season title, the conference tournament, and reaching the NCAA Tournament.

Still, Howard took a step back after losing its two leading scorers from its conference championship team to the transfer portal. Like Delaware State, this isn’t a tournament team on paper.

With these two overachieving teams facing off in the MEAC Tournament Final, expect a sloppy game between two programs that struggled with consistency this season. The game total is set as high as 139, and the Under should be in play.

The Hornets are among the worst offensive teams in the country, ranking 335th in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom, and scoring just 68.9 points per game in conference play. Shooting has been an issue all season with Delaware State ranking 257th in the country in field-goal percentage (43.4%), 312th in 2-point percentage (47.3%), and 279th in 3-point percentage (32.2%).

Waterman leans heavily on his three leading scorers Martaz Robinson (16.4 points per game), Jevin Muniz (14.7), and Deywilk Tavarez (13.6), with very little offense coming from any other player on the roster. There’s minimal depth to the Hornets' attack with just those three players averaging better than 6.5 points per game this season.

While this Howard defense isn’t anything to write home about, it’s allowing the third-fewest shots per game in MEAC play (54.4) and has held teams to shooting 33.6% from behind the arc this season. 

The Bison can also limit extra possessions with its rebounding. Howard allows the fewest rebounds to opponents this season in conference games (26.6) and Delaware State already has issues in that department with its lack of size.

On the flip side, the Hornets defense has been their saving grace for much of the year. Waterman’s team has only allowed 68.3 points per game in MEAC play and ranks first in defensive rating in the conference, per EvanMiya. 

Delaware State has held MEAC opponents to 43.3% shooting from the field, 33.4% from three, and puts opposing teams on the free throw line just 18.2 times per game in conference play.

The Hornets make up for a lack of size with quickness and aggressive defense, averaging 8.4 steals per game this season, the 35th most in the country. With Robinson and Tavarez combining for 4.1 steals, they should be able to force this Howard offense into mistakes.

While the Bison have one of the best offenses in the MEAC, their points per game drop from 75.2 to 73.6 in conference play and they’ve been averaging the fewest field-goal attempts per game in the conference (52).

Blakeney’s offense is predicated on the three, averaging the second-fewest 2-pointers per game (15.4) and the fewest attempts (30.4) in the MEAC. If the Hornets can limit those looks from behind the arc, they will slow this Howard attack down enough for the Under to hit.

My best bet: Under 139 (-110 at DraftKings)

Delaware State vs Howard same-game parlay

Under 139

Howard -2.5

+264 at DraftKings

Delaware State has been one of the coolest stories of the conference tournaments, but this is a Howard team that’s been here before and has enough scoring talent to separate against the Hornets.

Top guard Bryce Harris is a mismatch with his size and Seth Towns, an Ohio State transfer, gives the Bison a frontcourt talent to take advantage of Delaware State’s lack of size. Maryland transfer Marcus Dockery, Howard’s best sharpshooter, should be able to create problems for Waterman’s team, too.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Delaware State vs Howard spread and Over/Under analysis

Howard opened as a 2.5-point favorite against Delaware State. There’s been little line movement, but some books have seen the spread move to the Bison -3. Howard is just 12-17-2 against the spread this season while the Hornets are 16-15. Howard covered in both previous matchups against Delaware State this season.

The game total opened between 138.5 and 140.5. Some books have already seen the game total come down to 138 with 139 being the highest total available. The Bison are 18-12-1 betting the Over this season, but just 3-5 in their last eight. Delaware State is 14-17 betting the Over but has hit the Under in three straight. 

Delaware State vs Howard betting trend to know

Delaware State has hit the Under in 13 of its last 20 games. Find more college basketball betting trends for Delaware State vs. Howard.

Delaware State vs Howard game info

Delaware State vs Howard key injuries

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