The Samford Bulldogs host Western Carolina on Thursday, looking to build on their 5-12 mark against the 7-10 Catamounts in college hoops action at Pete Hanna Center.

The Catamounts will try to spoil to the party on Thursday; they are 6-6-1 ATS against the number this season, while the Bulldogs are 6-7 ATS. Western Carolina is 3-6 on the totals; Samford is 3-4-1.



View Western Carolina vs Samford Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
If you were backing the visitors in this one, the Catamounts were listed as 1.5-point favorites earlier in the day at Sportsbook.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Bulldogs - Catamounts odds would favor the Catamounts if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Samford is rated No. 336 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Western Carolina is at No. 167. Mathematical models based on recent stats and predictive formulas point to a 67-58 win for the Catamounts.



How They Match Up:
Rebounding is always a key handicapping consideration and Catamounts is ranked No. 214 in NCAA hoops at 34.3 per game. Contrast that with Samford’s No. 342 mark in the paint. When it comes to three-point shooting, Samford is the No. 148-ranked team in the country at 6.4 per game, while Western Carolina rates No. 126 at 6.5 per game.

Defensively, Western Carolina features the nation's No. 225-rated defense on the road, allowing 72.5 points per game. Samford, meanwhile, comes in at No. 327 nationally in scoring at home.

Western Carolina was an 80-67 loser in its last match at home against Elon. They failed to cover the 2.5-point spread as favorites. Trey Sumler was dynamite, scoring 32 points and adding 5 rebounds but Elon still won, 80-67, over Western Carolina on Monday at Ramsey Center.

Samford won its last outing, a 69-65 result against The Citadel on January 12. They covered in that game as a 3.5-point favorite. Samford earned a 69-65 victory over The Citadel on Saturday, getting 22 points from Clide Geffrard, Jr. at McAlister Field House.


Western Carolina Catamounts Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 3-7
Before playing Chattanooga are 5-5
After playing Elon are 5-5
After a loss are 5-5

Samford Bulldogs Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
Before playing Appalachian State are 3-5
After playing The Citadel are 2-4
After a win are 3-7

A few Catamounts at Bulldogs trends to consider:
Western Carolina is 5-0-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Western Carolina is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games on the road
Samford is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Western Carolina
Samford is 5-15 SU in its last 20 games
Samford is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
Samford is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Western Carolina


Next up:
Western Carolina at Chattanooga, Saturday, January 19
Samford home to Appalachian State, Saturday, January 19