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Teams renewing their rivalry for the first time in 42 years meet when the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats face the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in a key SWAC matchup on Monday night. The Wildcats (5-15, 3-5), who joined the conference at the start of this season, have struggled of late, losing two in a row and seven of 10. The Bulldogs (4-14, 3-5), who are still trying to recover from a 1-9 start to the season, have lost five of six, including four in a row. The teams enter the game tied for third place in the SWAC East, three games behind first-place Florida A&M.

The game from T.M. Elmore Gymnasium in Huntsville, Ala., is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET. Bethune-Cookman is averaging 61.5 points per game, while Alabama A&M averages 57.6. The Bulldogs are 2.5-point favorites in the latest Bethune-Cookman vs. Alabama A&M odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is set at 122.5. Before making any Alabama A&M vs. Bethune-Cookman picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 12 of the season with a 49-36 record on all top-rated college basketball picks, returning almost $700. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of $2,800 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Bethune-Cookman vs. Alabama A&M, and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college basketball odds and betting lines for Alabama A&M vs. Bethune-Cookman:

  • Bethune-Cookman vs. Alabama A&M spread: Alabama A&M -2.5
  • Bethune-Cookman vs. Alabama A&M over-under: 122.5 points
  • BCU: The under is 11-3 in the Wildcats' last 14 games following an against-the-spread loss
  • AAM: The under is 22-5 in the Bulldogs' last 27 Monday games

Why Bethune-Cookman can cover 

The Wildcats have six players scoring six points or more, led by sophomore guard Joe French. French exploded for 27 points and four rebounds in Saturday's 79-73 loss at Alabama State. He hit on 10 of 20 shots from the floor, including 5 of 10 from 3-point range. He is connecting on 43.3 percent of his field goals, including 40.2 from 3-point range, and 90.7 percent of his free throws. For the season, he is averaging 15.4 points and 3.3 rebounds. French has reached double-digit scoring in 13 of 18 games, including a season-high 31 points against Grambling on Jan. 8.

Also powering Bethune-Cookman is senior forward Kevin Davis, who has reached double-figure scoring in each of the last nine games he has played. He also has registered three double-doubles, including a 26-point and 13-rebound performance against Florida A&M on Jan. 3. He is coming off back-to-back 10-point efforts against Alcorn State and Alabama State. For the season, Davis is averaging 12.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals and one block per game.

Why Alabama A&M can cover

Junior forward Jalen Johnson powers the Bulldogs' offense. He is averaging 15.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals on the season and is connecting on 45.8 percent of his field goals and 68.7 percent of his free throws. In Saturday's 65-60 loss at Florida A&M, Johnson scored 26 points and grabbed three rebounds. He has scored in double figures in 16 games this season, including in each of his last nine. Johnson's best game was a 25-point, 14-rebound performance against Mississippi Valley State on Jan. 5, one of three double-doubles he's had on the year.

Sophomore guard Dailin Smith is one of the Bulldogs' scoring leaders, averaging 7.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. He is solid at the free throw line, connecting on 72.3 percent of his shots from the charity stripe. He has reached double-figure scoring in six games, including a season-high 15 points in a 72-67 win at Mississippi Valley State on Jan. 5. He also just missed registering a double-double against Jackson State, scoring 11 points and grabbing nine boards and recording three steals in a 60-58 win on Jan. 10.

How to make Alabama A&M vs. Bethune-Cookman picks

SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting 125 combined points. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that cashes in 60 percent of simulations. You can only get the model's picks at SportsLine. 

So who wins Bethune-Cookman vs. Alabama A&M? And which side of the spread hits in 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up $2,800 on its top-rated college basketball picks the last five years, and find out.