La Salle vs Fordham Prediction - Basketball Picks 3/9/23

Fordham Rams (24-7) vs La Salle Explorers (15-18)

Game Info: Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 7:30 pm (Barclays Center)

Betting Odds: Fordham Rams -5 -- Over/Under: 142 Click Here for the Latest Odds

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The La Salle Explorers and the Fordham Rams will meet in Brooklyn to battle in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Championship at the Barclays Center on the USA Network.

La Salle moved to 15-18 after defeating Duquesne in the second round. The Explorers used a second half outburst to storm back and send the Dukes home with an eleven-point loss. La Salle is scoring 70.1 points per game, while allowing 72.7 ppg, and shooting 42.5% from the field.

La Salle has managed to pick up a few wins here in Brooklyn, but they will face a stiff test here with Fordham. Sophomore guard Khalil Brantley scored 22 points in the win over Duquesne, and he’s leading La Salle in scoring (14.4) and assists (4.2). Senior guard Josh Nickelberry starts alongside him, and after scoring 17 points in the season finale against Loyola , he's up to 11.1 ppg. Senior forward Fousseyni Drame leads the team in rebounding (5.3), while scoring 8.8 ppg.

Fordham improved to 24-7 after beating Duquesne at home. The Rams out scored the Dukes in both halves en route to a massive 27-point victory, 87-60. Fordham is scoring 72.2 points per game, while allowing 67.5 ppg, and shooting 41.7% from the field.

Fordham won six of their final eight games, and they’ve got a real chance to win the A10 tournament. The Rams prefer a physical style of play, and they play through the inside-out duo of Darius Quisenberry and Khalid Moore. Quisenberry scored 21 points in the season finale win over Duquesne, and he leads Fordham in scoring (17.0). Moore matched his energy with a game-high 24 points, and he’s up to 15.4 ppg and a team-lead 6.5 rpg.

La Salle is 17-15 against the spread this season, with a 16-16 over/under record. Fordham is 19-12 ATS this year, with a 18-13 o/u record.

Longtime Pennsylvania college ball coach Fran Dunphy has done an admirable job in Brooklyn this week, but I think that all comes to an end when they face Fordham. The Rams sat atop the A10 all season, before squandering the standings lead to VCU, and with a tournament-worthy resume, they should come out strong here. This will mark La Salle’s third game in four days, and they may hit a mental wall this Thursday evening with Fordham. The Rams will also have the luxury of remaining in New York, and that energy should come through here with them advancing and covering.