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Teams looking to earn a matchup against top-seeded Alabama meet in a 2023 First Four game on Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio, when the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament champion Southeast Missouri State Redhawks battle the Southland Conference champion Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders. The Redhawks (19-16, 10-8 OVC), who have won six of eight, are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since losing 64-61 to LSU in the first round of the 2000 Tournament. The Islanders (23-10, 14-4 Southland), who have won 12 of 13, including four in a row, are making their third NCAA Tournament appearance and second First Four in a row. They lost to Texas Southern 76-67 last year, and also lost to Wisconsin 76-63 in a first-round matchup in 2007.

The contest from the University of Dayton Arena will start at 6:40 p.m. ET. SE Missouri State is allowing 76.7 points per game, while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi allows 72.5. The Islanders are 3-point favorites in the latest Southeast Missouri State vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 159. Before making any Texas A&M-CC vs. SEMO picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven model

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters the 2023 NCAA Tournament 79-53 on all-top rated college basketball picks this season, returning nearly $1,300 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on SEMO vs. Texas A&M-CC in the First Four 2023. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Texas A&M-CC vs. SEMO:

  • Southeast Missouri State vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi spread: Texas A&M-CC -3
  • Southeast Missouri State vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi over/under: 159 points
  • Southeast Missouri State vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi money line: SEMO +140, Texas A&M-CC -165
  • SEMO: The Redhawks have 238 steals, an average of seven per game
  • TAMCC: The Islanders are connecting on 79% of their free throws this season
  • Southeast Missouri State vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why Texas A&M-CC can cover 

Although the Islanders may be without senior guard Terrion Murdix, the Southland Defensive Player of the Year, who suffered a knee injury in the Southland Tournament Championship Game, they have a number of players capable of stepping up to fill his role. One of those is senior guard Jalen Jackson. Jackson poured in 17 points and dished out six assists in Wednesday's 75-71 Southland Final win over Northwestern State. For the year, he is averaging seven points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

Senior guard Ross Williams is averaging 9.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He is connecting on 40.4% of his field goals, including a blistering 40.3% from 3-point range, and 86.5% of his foul shots. He has scored in double figures 14 times, including two games with 20 or more points. His best game was a 22-point performance in a 98-67 win over Alcorn State on Nov. 23.

Why Southeast Missouri State can cover

Senior guard Israel Barnes is one of three Redhawks averaging in double figures. In 27 games, he is averaging 28 minutes, 10.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He is coming off a 19-point and seven-rebound performance in the OVC Tournament title game win over Tennessee Tech. He has reached double-figure scoring in 12 games, including 20 or more points five times.

Also helping power Southeast Missouri State is sophomore guard Aquan Smart. In 31 games, including 25 starts, he is averaging 7.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 steals in 24.9 minutes per game. He has reached double-digit scoring nine times. His best game was a 22-point, eight-rebound, four-steal and four-assist performance in a 105-102 double-overtime loss to Lindenwood on Feb. 23.

How to make SEMO vs. Texas A&M-CC picks

The model is leaning Under on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 156 points. It also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Texas A&M-CC vs. SEMO? And which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the computer model that has crushed its college basketball picks.