Mt. St. Mary’s (22-12) vs American (22-12)
- When: Mar 19 2025, 6:40 PM
- Where: UD Arena, Dayton, OH, USA
- Where to watch: TruTV
American vs. Mount Saint Mary’s: First Four Betting Preview & Prediction
American Favored by 3.0 | Total Set at 129.0
American University Eagles
The Eagles (22-12) punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament by securing the Patriot League championship, knocking off Lafayette, Colgate, and Navy in the process. Now, American is set to make its fourth March Madness appearance and its first since 2014.
Head coach Duane Simpkins has done an impressive job in his second season, turning a struggling seven-win conference team into a 13-win Patriot League powerhouse. His squad has been battle-tested and features a balanced offensive attack led by Matt Rogers, who averages 17.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Elijah Stephens (10.6 PPG) adds another scoring threat to the backcourt.
Simpkins acknowledged how special this moment is for his team, stating, “It’s a testament to hard work, perseverance, and having the right people around you.” With momentum on their side, the Eagles look to extend their season and earn a date with No. 1 seed Duke in the next round.
Mount Saint Mary’s Mountaineers
The Mountaineers (22-12) earned their place in the Big Dance by capturing the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) title, defeating Iona 63-49 in a dominant championship performance. In just their third season in the MAAC, head coach Donny Lind has led his squad to its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2021.
Mount Saint Mary’s relies heavily on its backcourt, with Dola Adebayo (13.2 PPG) and Dallas Hobbs (12.6 PPG) leading the offensive charge. Senior forward Jedy Cordilia anchors the paint, pulling down 7.3 rebounds per game.
Lind admitted that playing against a familiar opponent like American presents challenges, saying, “One of the fun things about the tournament is maybe you can sneak up on somebody because they don’t know you. That won’t be the case here.”
Mount Saint Mary’s has been a No. 16 seed in all six of its previous tournament appearances, and the program is still searching for its first NCAA Tournament win outside of the First Four.
Game Prediction & Betting Pick
These teams met earlier this season, with American escaping with a narrow 68-65 victory. Expect another close battle, but the Eagles have been a more consistent team down the stretch. Mount Saint Mary’s has struggled against quality opponents, and American’s balanced scoring attack should prove to be the difference.
Final Score Prediction: American 66, Mount Saint Mary’s 61
Best Bet: American -3
Lean: Under 129.0
- NCAAB Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
