First Four NCAA Tournament Pick: Mt St Mary’s vs. American – Wednesday, March 19, 2025

The Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers (22-12) take on the American University Eagles (22-12) in the East Region as part of the First 4 to begin the Men’s Basketball Championship on Wednesday, March 19 at 6:40 PM ET at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. Current odds from MyBookie show the Eagles favored with their point spread at -2.5 (-110).

Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers Betting Preview

The Mountaineers have won their last four consecutive games, going 4-1 in their last five overall. With great momentum on their side, they still need to find a way into the tournament. Their most recent success was a 63-49 outing over the Iona Gaels in the MAAC Championship.

Iona actually had a one-point lead at the half, but the Mountaineers dropped 38 in the second while holding the Gaels to 23 to give them the boost they needed. Dallas Hobbs led with 18 points and seven assists.

Mount St. Mary’s ranks 272nd in the nation for producing 70.4 points per game. Their defense has allowed 69.8 points a game, ranking 112th. While their defense is not the worst, their offense tends to be a bit sluggish.

The Mountaineers are 265th overall for their point differential and strength of schedule combined. On offense per 100 possessions, their efficiency ranks 298th while their defense at the same rate comes in at 88th.

American University Eagles Betting Preview

The Eagles are also 4-1 in their last five and have a four-game win streak under their belt. Their recent win was a 74-52 blowout over the Navy Midshipmen in the Patriot League Championship.

American University had 37 points each half, making it nearly impossible for Navy to keep up on offense. Matt Rogers had an impressive performance with 25 points on 58.8 percent shooting from the field and led with eight rebounds.

The Eagles boast one of the slower paces in the nation, as they average 68.6 points a game and rank 310th. However, their defense as a result has been holding teams to 67.3 points a game and ranks 50th. This margin is thin, but could be appealing if they keep the pace slow.

On top of that, their overall ranking for point differential and strength of schedule shows they are the 251st-best team. Their offensive and defensive efficiency per 100 possessions ranks 230th and 136th, respectively.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

MyBookie has you covered for the best Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers vs. American University Eagles betting odds. Current market predictions suggest the Eagles have a 53.4 percent likelihood of winning.

Looking at the overall strength of schedule and averages for winning margins, the Eagles are appealing. Look for the Eagles to cover the spread.

Final Pick: American University Eagles -2.5 (-110)