Teams looking to turn their fortunes around meet in a non-conference matchup on Thursday when the Elon Phoenix battle the Presbyterian Blue Hose. The Phoenix (2-8), who finished seventh in the Colonial Athletic Association at 7-11 and were10-22 a year ago, have lost eight of their past nine games. The Blue Hose (2-9), who were fifth in the Big South Southern Division at 4-12 and 12-20 overall in 2021-22, have lost three in a row. This will be the teams' first meeting since 1998, when Presbyterian posted an 81-77 victory in overtime.
The game from Templeton Center in Clinton, S.C., tips off at noon ET. Elon is averaging 69.5 points per game, while Presbyterian averages 61.6. The Blue Hose are 4.5-point favorites in the latest Presbyterian vs. Elon odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 131.5. Before making any Elon vs. Presbyterian 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. The model enters Week 6 of the 2022-23 college basketball season on a strong 17-10 roll on all-top rated CBB picks, returning almost $300. Anybody who has followed it has seen profitable returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Elon vs. Presbyterian 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 Elon vs. Presbyterian:
- Elon vs. Presbyterian spread: Presbyterian -4.5
- Elon vs. Presbyterian over/under: 131.5 points
- Elon vs. Presbyterian money line: Presbyterian -200, Elon +170
- ELON: The Phoenix are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven road games against a team with a losing home record
- PRES: The Blue Hose are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games
- Elon vs. Presbyterian picks: See picks here
Why Presbyterian can cover
Eight Presbyterian players have recorded at least one double-figure scoring game this season. Senior forward Winston Hill has reached double figures in four games, and in 33 in his career. He is averaging 10.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists this year. The Preseason Second-Team All-Big South player missed the first four games due to injury, but scored 15 points in 23 minutes against Bucknell on Nov. 21 in his return.
Also leading the Blue Hose's offense is junior guard Crosby James, who averages 10.3 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. He recorded his first career 20-point scoring game at Presbyterian with 21 points at The Citadel on Nov. 10, and scored 13 points while shooting 5 of 9 from the field in the win over Carolina University on Nov. 7. He also registered 10 points and grabbed three rebounds at East Carolina on Nov. 12. James has reached double digits six times this season and in 56 games in his career.
Why Elon can cover
Senior guard Sean Halloran has been red hot of late, reaching double figures in each of his last five games, including a 21-point performance in a loss to UNC Greensboro on Dec. 3. He registered a double-double in the Phoenix's last game on Sunday with 11 points and 11 assists. For the season, Halloran is averaging 13.2 points, 5.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. He is connecting on 45.5% of his field goals and 92% of his free throws.
Senior guard Zac Ervin has also been productive of late, reaching double-digit scoring the past two games and in four of the past seven. In the win over Johnson & Wales, he scored a season-high 19 points, while grabbing four rebounds and dishing out four assists. He scored 18 points in the loss at UNC-Greensboro. For the year, he is averaging 11 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
How to make Elon vs. Presbyterian picks
SportsLine's model is going Over on the total. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that cashes in 60% of simulations. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Elon vs. Presbyterian? And which side of the spread cashes in 60% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Elon vs. Presbyterian spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up nearly $300 on its college basketball picks this season, and find out.
