Binghamton Bearcats vs Saint Peter's Peacocks Prediction, Odds, Best Bets - Week 1

Saint Peter's scored in the low forties in its opener and now lays a real number at home. Binghamton lost big at Northwestern, but its frontcourt showed up in the loss, and the Bearcats bring that size into Jersey City.

The Matchup

Binghamton visits Saint Peter's on Thursday night at the Yanitelli Center in Jersey City, with Saint Peter's an 8.5-point favorite, a total of 138.5, on ESPN+. Both teams are 0-1, and both lost on the road to bigger programs.

Last season Binghamton finished 8-23, scoring 67.9 points a game and allowing 74.9. Saint Peter's finished 17-12, scoring 70.8 and allowing 68.4. Saint Peter's was clearly the better team last season, and that history is doing most of the work in this price.

The openers were rough for both. Binghamton lost 86-60 at Northwestern. Saint Peter's lost 66-42 at Seton Hall and scored fewer points than Binghamton did against a tougher defense to create shots against. A home favorite that just scored 42 has to prove it can score enough to cover, not just enough to win.

Key Factors

Binghamton's frontcourt is a real reason to take the points. Demetrius Lilley scored 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds at Northwestern, with 4 offensive rebounds, in 31 minutes. Bobby Montgomery Jr. added 10 points in 19 minutes with 2 steals, and Jeremiah Quigley scored 9. Lilley matters most, because extra possessions are how an underdog stays in a game it cannot win on shooting alone. Every offensive rebound is a possession Saint Peter's cannot use to stretch the lead.

Saint Peter's offense is the problem on the other side. The Peacocks scored 42 points at Seton Hall. Bryce Eaton scored 16 of them, hitting 4-of-6 from three, and almost nobody else helped. Elijah Perkins scored 2 points on 1-of-6 shooting and turned the ball over 5 times. When one player accounts for that much of the scoring and the lead guard gives the ball away that often, pulling away by nine or more requires a shooting night this team has not shown yet.

The counterpoint is Binghamton's defense and its own record. The Bearcats allowed 86 points at Northwestern and allowed 74.9 a game last season on the way to 8 wins. Saint Peter's defended well enough to hold Seton Hall to 66, and at home the Peacocks should get a friendlier whistle and a better shooting night from Eaton's supporting cast.

If Eaton stays hot and Perkins takes care of the ball, the favorite can separate late. The bet is that Lilley's work on the glass and Saint Peter's thin scoring keep this inside single digits.

Every pick is published with its line before the game. Odds via consensus sportsbooks at time of writing and move constantly. Must be 21+. If gambling is a problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.