Mountaineers Look to Avoid Early Exit in Date with Bucknell

The No. 4 West Virginia Mountaineers look to avoid their third March Madness opening-round loss in four years, when they take on the No. 13 Bucknell Bison on Thursday in a West Region matchup at Keybank Arena. The Patriot League champion Bison ride a six-game win streak, claiming victory by double-digit margins on four occasions over that span.​

The Mountaineers posted SU wins in 14 of their past 21, but covered on just seven occasions, and just once in their past eight. West Virginia is also winless ATS in its past nine overall as double-digit chalk, and 3-3 SU and ATS in its past six opening-round games at the NCAA tournament.

The Bison return to the big dance for the first time since 2013, but are winless SU and ATS in their last two opening-round contests. Bucknell has failed to crack 60 points in its past four tournament dates, losing by an average margin of 19 points in its past three.

However, the Bison earned a 75-72 win over Vanderbilt in November, in their last outing as a double-digit underdog.

Bucknell Bison vs West Virginia Mountaineers Matchup

Team Betting Records & Power Rankings

West Virginia Mountaineers battles the Bucknell Bison, currently sitting with a 26-8 mark (8-3 ATS). The OVER/UNDER records, always important for totals betting, are 17-14 for the West Virginia Mountaineers and 6-4-1 for the Bucknell Bison.

The Mountaineers - Bison odds would favor the Bison if the lines were set according to our power ranks. West Virginia is rated No. 39 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Bucknell is at No. 17.

Recent Outings Betting Recap

Bucknell earned a 81-65 victory over Lehigh on Wednesday, getting 18 points from Kimbal Mackenzie at Sojka Pavilion.

Jevon Carter scored 18 points in a futile effort to lead the Mountaineers to a win (they lost 80-74 to Iowa State at Sprint Center on Saturday).