First Four: Fairleigh Dickinson vs Florida Gulf Coast

The NCAA Tournament gets underway on Tuesday when Fairleigh Dickinson and Florida Gulf Coast meet on a play in game in the First Four. The current line has Florida Gulf Coast favored by 6 points in this opening game of the tournament

During the regular season, Fairleigh Dickinson had an overall record of 18-14 straight up. Over their past 10 games played the Knights are 6-4 SU.

Florida Gulf Coast on the season was 20-13 SU. Over their past 10 games played, the Eagles were 7-3 SU.

FGCU last played in the NCAA Tournament three years ago when they upset two teams and reached the Sweet 16. Florida Gulf Coast won the Atlantic Sun tournament to reach the NCAA Tournament, while Fairleigh Dickinson won the Northeast Tournament after starting the season 2-6.

In 2013, FGCU stunned Georgetown followed by San Diego State and for four straight seasons has 20 wins or more. Marc Eddy Norelia a junior forward leads the team in scoring at 17.2 points per game and in rebounding at 9.2 per game.

Fairleigh Dickinson has reached the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time but its first in 11 years with the nation’s youngest team, as the team has a number of freshmen and sophomores.

The team that wins this game between the Co-Number 16 seeds will advance to play North Carolina the top seed in the East Regional on Thursday.

Fairleigh Dickinson has averaged 80.5 points per game over its past four games and overall has five straight wins. Darian Anderson leads the team in scoring, followed by Earl Potts Jr. Both players are sophomores. The two combined to score 55 points in the NEC Tournament title game.

FGCU holds a rebounding margin of plus-5, while, the Knights are minus-4.9.

Fairleigh Dickson freshman forward Mike Holloway scored 19 points while grabbing 17 boards in the Northeast Tournament semifinal.

Fairleigh Dickinson has covered the number in each of its past 4 games after winning a game against the spread.

Fairleigh Dickinson has covered the spread in just 1 of its past 7 games played at a neutral site.

FGCU has covered the number in each of its past 7 games played on Tuesday.

FGCU has covered the number in 12 of its past 13 games played on a neutral court.

Prediction: Florida Gulf Coast has had the better overall season, with more consistency even though Farleigh Dickinson has come on strong of late. Lean on FGCU.