Samford vs Western Carolina Prediction College Basketball Picks 1/4/25

The Samford Bulldogs and the Western Carolina Catamounts meet Saturday in college basketball action from the Ramsey Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Samford vs. Western Carolina prediction.

Samford Recap

The Samford Bulldogs come into this game looking to build on their 86-56 beatdown win over the Citadel last time out to improve to 11-3 on the year. After this game, Samford will head back home for a matchup against VMI.

Bulldogs Win Back-To-Back Games

Trey Fort leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 15 PPG along with 3.8 RPG while Jaden Brownell has 14.1 PPG with 4.2 RPG on the year. Collin Holloway has 10.9 PPG with a team-high 4.7 RPG to lead Samford in rebounding while Rylan Jones has 10.8 PPG with 3.1 RPG and a team-high 6 APG to lead the Bulldogs in the assist department up to this point in the year and to round out the group of double-digit scorers for Samford so far this season. Riley Allenspach also has 8 PPG with 2.9 RPG as well this season. As a team, Samford is averaging 88.8 PPG on 47.8% shooting from the field, 38.5% from three and 70.4% from the foul line this season.

Why the Samford Bulldogs will win

• Samford has won 19 of its last 20 day games.
• Western Carolina has lost four of its last five games.

Western Carolina Recap

The Western Carolina Catamounts come into this game looking to shake off a 90-61 loss at the hands of Furman last time out to fall to 4-8 on the year. After this game, Western Carolina will take on Wofford at home.

Catamounts Looking For Big Upset

Bernard Pelote leads Western Carolina in scoring and rebounding with 11.4 PPG and 7.9 RPG while Cord Stansberry has 11 PPG and 4.3 RPG as well on the year. Ice Emery has 10.3 PPG with 2.4 RPG to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for Western Carolina so far this season. Marcus Kell’s added 7.1 PPG with 4.4 RPG and CJ Hyland’s dished out a team-high 2 APG to lead the Catamounts in assists so far this season. As a team, Western Carolina is averaging 69.3 PPG on 39.9% shooting from the field, 29.3% from three and 72.4% from the foul line this season.

Why the Western Carolina Catamounts will win

• Western Carolina has won eight of its last nine day games against the Southern Conference at Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center.

Total Points Facts

• Twenty of Western Carolina’s last 21 day games against Conference opponents at Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center have produced a total of 155 or fewer points.
• Ten of Samford’s last 12 road games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 160 or fewer points.

Samford vs. Western Carolina Prediction

I’m on Samford here. I just don’t think that Western Carolina has what it takes to hang with Samford for a full 40 minutes, even at home here. I know Western Carolina scheduled up, playing the likes of Tennessee and Marquette, Wake Forest and Florida State, but I thought that would prepare them for SoCon play getting back home and what happens? They get rinsed by 29 against Furman. I think Samford’s the best team in the SoCon, so if Furman can come into your gym and win by 29, imagine what the 4th-best scoring offense in the country owned by Samford is going to do. Give me Samford in a beatdown.