Howard Bison vs Maryland-Eastern Shore Prediction & Odds

Howard Bison vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore Basketball Prediction
February 17, 2025, 3:00 PM ET | Burr Gymnasium, Washington, D.C.

Key Factors Influencing the Prediction

1. Recent Form & Team Performance

• Howard Bison (10-15, 5-3 MEAC):
  • Averaging 78.0 PPG (ranked 84th nationally) but allowing 80.0 PPG (349th in defense) .
  • Strong home record: 7-5 at Burr Gymnasium and 10 wins in last 11 day games against MEAC opponents at home .
  • Top performers: Blake Harper (18.9 PPG, 44.6 FG%) and Marcus Dockery (17.2 PPG, 42.3 3PT%) .
• Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks (4-20, 0-8 MEAC):
  • 9-game losing streak and winless in conference play .
  • Offensive struggles: 67.1 PPG (336th) and 31.6% 3PT shooting (7th in MEAC) .
  • Reliant on Ketron Shaw (18.0 PPG) and Evan Johnson (12.5 PPG), but defense allows 79.2 PPG (340th) .

1. Head-to-Head & Trends

• Howard dominated the last meeting (February 10, 2025) with a 77-57 victory .
• Howard has won 14 of the last 16 matchups, including 7 straight at Burr Gymnasium .
• Maryland-Eastern Shore has lost 10 consecutive day games against MEAC teams and struggles to cover spreads (8-12-0 ATS this season) .

1. Betting Insights

• Spread: Howard -13.5 .
  • Howard is 9-12 ATS this season, while Maryland-Eastern Shore is 5-7 ATS as a 13.5+ underdog .
• Over/Under: 151.5 points .
  • Both teams combine for 145.1 PPG on average, 6.4 below the total. However, their opponents average 159.2 PPG, suggesting potential for a higher-scoring game .

1. Injury Report

• Howard is missing Bryce Harris and Ose Okojie, but key scorers remain healthy .
• Maryland-Eastern Shore has no listed injuries .

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Prediction & Picks

• Final Score Prediction: Howard 81 – Maryland-Eastern Shore 70 .
• Spread Pick: Howard -13.5
• Howard’s home dominance and Maryland-Eastern Shore’s offensive inefficiency suggest a double-digit win. The Bison’s 20-point victory in their previous meeting supports this .
• Over/Under Pick: Under 151.5
• Despite Howard’s high-scoring offense, Maryland-Eastern Shore’s slow pace and poor shooting (41.7% FG in last 10 games) may limit scoring .

Key Stats to Watch

• Howard’s 3PT shooting (39.1%, 11th nationally) vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore’s 32.5% 3PT defense .
• Turnovers: Howard averages 14.4 TOs per game (353rd), which Maryland-Eastern Shore could exploit .

Conclusion: Howard’s home-court advantage, superior offense, and Maryland-Eastern Shore’s prolonged struggles make the Bison the clear favorite. While the spread is sizable, recent trends and head-to-head results justify backing Howard to cover. The under on total points is also favorable given both teams’ defensive vulnerabilities and low combined scoring average.

Bovada Moneyline: Howard Bison -1200, Maryland-Eastern Shore 750