Posted at 12:30 PM EST. Odds subject to change.

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Ross E. Templeton P.E. Center - Clinton, SC

Streaming ESPN+

The Citadel +155 over Presbyterian

7:00 PM EST. Last year was a transition season at The Citadel, as the Bulldogs moved on from former head coach Duggar Baucom to current head man, Ed Conroy. Their contrasting styles led to some struggles, and a 10-22 season was the result, but with bare cupboards left for Conroy and a laundry list of injuries, the poor record was not a total shock. As for 2023-24, the Bulldogs look much more like a team in Conroy’s image. The team is young, but the Bulldogs have a solid trio of veterans at the top with the returning Elijah Morgan and incoming transfers Quentin Millora-Brown and Winston Hill.

The Bulldogs are 0-2 thus far, but they have played a pair of Power Five conference teams in NC State and Boston College. The Bulldogs were a +21-point underdog to the Wolfpack and a +9½-point choice against the Eagles, and they gave both a run for their money, as NC State never had a chance to cover that number while Boston College won by just four points. It’s noteworthy that Conroy is not afraid to test his team against the best who will play them. When a team is battle-tested, they are usually better prepared for conference play and to compete with schools that are more on their level.

Enter the Blue Hose of Presbyterian, who may have already blown their load this season with an opening night win at Vanderbilt in a game the Blue Hose were a 17-point underdog. Those players who won that game will be heroes on campus for years to come, and if you watched the aftermath, the victory was called one of the most “significant” in program history. The Blue Hose followed that season-defining win with a 100-58 victory over Columbia International in a game the oddsmakers didn’t even bother to post a line on.

To summarize, we have two mid-major programs that have had contrasting starts after two games, but there is no shame in the effort or the results from The Citadel thus far despite the goose egg in the win column. Meanwhile, the Blue Hose already hold one of the biggest upsets of the season, and knocking off a Power Five school is going to resonate in the market in advance of a game like this and because of that, Presbyterian is spotting inflated points. What would this number be if the Blue Hose got whacked, as they were supposed to at Vandy? At best, the Blue Hose might be given the respect of being small home chalk. However, the reality is that Presbyterian will be the second-best team taking its home court tonight. The value being offered up here on the Bulldogs of The Citadel is off the charts. Take back the points if you like, but we are going for the kill. Bulldogs outright is our call.

Sherwood

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