First Four NCAA Tournament Pick & Prediction: Saint Francis vs. Alabama State – Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Saint Francis Red Flash (16-17) and Alabama State Hornets (19-15) will compete in the South Region as part of the First 4 to kick off the Men’s Basketball Championship on Tuesday, March 18 at 6:40 PM ET. The action will be at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, where the Hornets are favored with a point spread at -3.5 (-115) at MyBookie.

Saint Francis Red Flash Betting Preview

The Red Flash won their last six games and now have an opportunity to get into the NCAA Tournament if they can seal a win here. Their most recent success was a 46-43 outing in the Northeast Conference Tournament Final against the Central Connecticut Blue Devils.

This was a scrappy game for the Red Flash, as they were able to tie the game at 20 going into the half. The Blue Devils were nearly 12-point favorites based on their previous meeting, but the pressure was too much. Juan Cranford Jr. led with 14 points on 40.0 percent shooting.

Saint Francis ranks 257th in the nation for scoring 71.1 points per game. Their defense ranks 172nd for allowing 71.6 points per game from opposing teams. This spread gives them no room for error, as they show the slightest deficit.

Based on their strength of schedule and point differential, the Red Flash are considered to be the 323rd-best team in the nation. As for their efficiency on offense and defense per 100 possessions, they rank 257th and 180th, respectively.

Alabama State Hornets Betting Preview

The Hornets have also won their last six games and show appealing momentum. Their most recent triumph was a 60-56 performance over the Jackson State Tigers.

Alabama State was down by one at the half, but had a stronger offensive performance in the second to get it done. CJ Hines stood out with 20 points on 53.3 percent shooting from the field and was the only player for them in double figures.

The Hornets have averaged 73.4 points a game and rank 194th. On defense, they allow opponents to average 72.2 points a game which ranks 197th. This margin of error is thin, but is slightly more appealing than what the Red Flash provides.

In addition, the Hornets’ efficiency on offense per 100 possessions ranks 224th, while their defense at the same rate ranks 147th. When looking at their strength of schedule and winning margins, they are ranked as the 282nd-best team.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

The best Saint Francis Red Flash vs. Alabama State Hornets betting odds can be found through MyBookie, who currently shows the Hornets as 3.5-point favorites. Current market predictions suggest this will be a close game, as the Hornets are favored to win with a 58.4 percent success rate. This will likely be a tight game, but look for the Hornets to pull away and cover the spread.

Final Pick: Alabama State Hornets -3.5 (-115)