On Sunday, the Petersen Events Center will host a college basketball game between the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Alabama State Hornets. Although the Hornets' game against the San Jose State Spartans on Tuesday wasn't a complete rout, Alabama State's road loss of 70-57 came dangerously close.
The Panthers, meanwhile, lost to the VCU Rams on Thursday, 71-67, after coming close. Despite forward Blake Hinson's excellent performance, which included 18 points, Pittsburgh still lost.
Pittsburgh vs Alabama State Betting Odds
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Pittsburgh vs Alabama State Match Details
Fixture: Hornets at Panthers
Date and Time: Sunday, November 20 at 2:00 PM ET
Venue: Petersen Events Center -- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh vs Alabama State Key Stats
The Hornets will attempt to recover from their most recent defeat, a 70-57 loss to San Jose State. The only other player in double digits for Alabama State so far this season is Isaiah Range, who averages 10 points per game. TJ Madlock leads the Hornets in scoring with 14.8 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per game.
This season, Alex Anderson leads the club with 5 RPG, 3.3 APG, and 9 PPG. This season, the Hornets have a team scoring average of 61.8 PPG, while shooting 33.1% from the field, 32% from three, and 72.9% from the charity stripe.
The Pitt Panthers will attempt to recover from their most recent defeat, a 71-67 loss to VCU. Blake Hinson, Jamarius Burton, and Greg Elliott make up Pitt's current trio of double-digit scorers. Blake Hinson leads Pitt in scoring and rebounding with 15.8 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Nelly Cummings, who leads Pitt in assists this year, also averages 7.8 PPG and a team-high 3.8 APG. Pitt is averaging 65.8 PPG this year as a team while shooting 40.4% from the field, 25.5% from three, and 68.3% from the foul line.
Pittsburgh vs Alabama State Best Picks and Prediction
The Hornets are 0-3-1 ATS in their last four Sunday games, 11-2 ATS in their last 13 road games against teams with losing home records, and 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games against teams with winning percentages under 400. The over is also unbeaten in those seven games. Pitt has a record of 1-6 ATS in their previous 7 home games, 1-7-1 ATS overall, and 6-0 ATS in their last 6 Sunday games.
I understand the argument for a sizable underdog, but the Hornets have been terrible this year, and I don't see that improving even against Pitt. Pitt's issue has been that they can't compete with the best teams they've faced, but in the one game against UT-Martin where they were superior, Pitt triumphed by 22 points. I wouldn't rush to the betting window for this one, but I'd go with Pitt.
Pick: Panthers -20.5 (-110)
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