Furman vs. Western Carolina Picks and Prediction for Saturday, February 28, 2026
Use Code WWWC On Saturday, the Furman Paladins will play the Western Carolina Catamounts in a Southern Conference basketball game, and we have you ready to go with our Furman vs. Western Carolina prediction, odds, and preview. Tip-off from Cullowhee, NC, is at 5:30 p.m. ET.
The Catamounts beat the Paladins 80-77 in overtime on January 3. WCU knocked down 50 percent of its three-pointers and won the rebounding battle 48-35, collecting 17 offensive boards. They led by as many as 11 points and never trailed by more than four. Furman is 7-3 straight-up (4-6 ATS) in its last ten matchups with Western Carolina. The over went 7-3 in those games. If you want the Furman vs. Western Carolina prediction, read on to get our top NCAAB predictions and increase your bankroll!
Furman is 7-4 ATS on the road this season
Furman (19-11 SU, 13-14 ATS, and 11-16 O/U) beat The Citadel 72-51 on Wednesday, covering the spread as 15.5-point betting favorites. The Paladins only led by two at the half but dominated the Bulldogs 39-20 after the break. They shot just 22 percent from beyond the arc, but scored 19 points at the charity stripe and added 36 points in the paint. Furman also won the rebounding battle 50-20, grabbing 19 offensive boards.
The Paladins have won three of their last four games and six of their last ten, both straight-up and against the spread. They are tied with Mercer and Samford for third place in the SoCon basketball standings with a 10-7 conference record. They score 79.0 points per game (136th) on 47.2 percent shooting (67th), including 31.7 percent from beyond the arc (306th). Defensively, Furman allows 72.2 points per game (110th) on 41.6 percent shooting (53rd), including 32.0 percent from three (84th). The Paladins rank 189th nationally, including 227th in offensive efficiency and 155th in defensive efficiency, per KenPom.
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Furman is led by freshman guard Alex Wilkins, who scores 17.4 points per game on 45.2 percent shooting. He also averages 5.0 assists per contest. A few other Paladins to watch on Saturday against Western Carolina are sophomore guard Asa Thomas (13.6 PPG and 4.2 RPG), junior forward Cooper Bowser (13.5 PPG and 6.0 RPG), and senior forward Charles Johnston (10.3 PPG and 9.3 RPG).
Furman Paladins Injury Report:
- No injuries to report.
Catamounts are a weak defensive team
Western Carolina (13-15 SU, 12-14 ATS, and 14-12 O/U) beat Mercer 78-74 on Wednesday, pulling off the upset as 1.5-point spread 'dogs. The Catamounts and Bears traded baskets all game, but WCU made more winning plays down the stretch. Western Carolina shot 45 percent, but was 25-for-27 at the foul line and scored 34 points in the paint.
The Catamounts have won five straight and seven of their last ten, both straight-up and against the spread. They are tied with UNC Greensboro for fourth place in the SoCon standings with a 9-8 conference record. They score 81.6 points per game (89th) on 44.7 percent shooting (216th), including 33.6 percent from beyond the arc (213th). Defensively, Western Carolina surrenders 81.0 points per game (317th) on 45.9 percent shooting (279th), including 36.2 percent from three-point range (323rd). The Catamounts rank 251st in the country, including 171st in offensive efficiency and 308th in defensive efficiency, per KenPom.
Western Carolina is paced by junior guard Cord Stansberry, who scores 14.0 points per game on 36.6 percent shooting. He also averages 3.9 rebounds per contest. A few other Catamounts to watch on Saturday against Furman are junior forward Marcus Kell (13.6 PPG and 4.8 RPG), senior guard Tidjiane Dioumassi (8.1 PPG), and frosh guard Tahlan Pettway (7.6 PPG and 2.3 APG).
Western Carolina Catamounts Injury Report:
- Senior guard Julien Soumaoro (12.2 PPG) last played on February 14. His playing status is questionable for Saturday's game.
Furman vs. Western Carolina Pick and Preview
Spread Pick for Furman vs. Western Carolina
- Paladins cover (5 Units)
Furman has been one of the most consistent teams in the country, ranking 7th nationally in Haslametrics' Consistency metric. They also rank just outside the top 50 in the website's "Away from Home" metric. They are among the most efficient offensive teams inside the arc, ranking 12th in two-point percentage (59.5%), which will be tough for the Catamounts to defend, as WCU ranks 350th in mid-range defense and 302nd in two-point defense. The home team is also weak defensively on the perimeter, ranking outside the top 300 in three-point defense.
On the other end of the court, I expect Furman to be tough to score against in the paint. The Paladins are ranked 42nd in near-proximity shot defense, and they rarely foul, ranking 60th in opponent free-throw attempt rate. The Catamounts will struggle to keep up on the scoreboard without free throws and easy shots around the rim, as they aren't an elite three-point shooting team.
Bet on Furman to cover the spread on Saturday!
Over/Under Pick for Furman vs. Western Carolina
- Under (4 Units)
The visitors are a slow-paced team, ranking 257th nationally in schedule-adjusted tempo, per KenPom. They have played well on the road this season and will play well enough defensively to keep the Catamounts in check, forcing them into too many threes. The Paladins lead the SoCon in adjusted defensive efficiency, opponent FT rate, and two-point defense, and they're also 2nd in three-point defense in conference play. On the other end of the court, WCU will compete just enough to keep Furman from pushing the total over the number. They enter Saturday's matchup ranked 17th nationally in defensive momentum, and they do a solid job at limiting second-chance buckets (3rd in defensive rebounding percentage in SoCon play and top-60 nationally in opponent second-chance conversion percentage this season).
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