The Winthrop Eagles take on the High Point Panthers in Johnson City, TN, in the Big South Championship title game. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
High Point is favored by 6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -270. The total is set at 164.5 points.
Here’s my Winthrop vs. High Point predictions and college basketball picks for March 8, 2026.
Winthrop vs High Point Prediction
My Pick: High Point -6.5
My Winthrop vs High Point best bet is on the Panthers to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Winthrop vs. High Point Odds
| Winthrop Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -110 | 164.5 -110 / -110 | +220 |
| High Point Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -110 | 164.5 -110 / -110 | -270 |
- Winthrop vs High Point spread: High Point -6.5
- Winthrop vs High Point over/under: 164.5 points
- Winthrop vs High Point moneyline: Winthrop +220, High Point -270
Winthrop vs High Point College Basketball Betting Preview
Winthrop Basketball
Winthrop nearly took a loss in the quarterfinals to Charleston Southern. The No. 2 seed in the Big South Tournament trailed by seven with 30 seconds left, but it forced back-to-back turnovers and a missed free throw to go on an 8-0 run in 15 seconds.
But we can’t talk about Winthrop without addressing the elephant in the room.
Star big man Logan Duncomb is gutting it out after suffering a foot injury in the penultimate game of the regular season. He played 16 minutes and scored 20 points with 11 boards against Charleston Southern in the quarters.
However, he rested for most of the semifinal win over Presbyterian, scoring 12 points in 11 minutes.
Even a hampered Duncomb is better than most. You just have to wonder if High Point throws extra bodies at him when he plays to make him move more on that bum foot. The Panthers can double and force Duncomb to move instead of letting him play one-on-one.
The Eagles' offense is much better than their defense, ranking 118th in offensive efficiency and 204th in defensive efficiency.
Most of Winthrop’s offensive success comes from Duncomb’s ability to draw fouls (44% free-throw rate) and how he dominates the offensive glass (34% offensive rebound rate).
The non-Duncomb stuff is worrisome. Winthrop shoots just 49% on 2s and 33% from deep. With their star limited in minutes, the Eagles will have to make more field goals on the first look and rely less on the offensive boards.
High Point Basketball
High Point is hunting down a third straight NCAA Tournament bid. The Panthers are 30-4 and lost just one game in Big South play — to this same Winthrop program.
The Panthers changed their identity under first-year head coach Flynn Clayman. Last season, they were a lax defensive team with their drop coverage approach, but this season, they're coming at the opponent defensively, not waiting for them to attack.
They rank 177th in defensive efficiency, per KenPom, which still isn't a great number, but better than it was last season.
The aggressive nature of the Panthers' defense leads to a 22.1% defensive turnover rate. On the flip side, opponents shoot 51.8% from inside the arc against them.
I still have faith in this defense, though. Owen Aquino is a monster defender, tallying over 1.8 blocks and 1.3 steals per game, and Terry Anderson is a multi-positional weapon on that end.
Just like last year, High Point wants to win by using offensive play, ranking 61st in offensive efficiency, per KenPom.
The 3-point shooting is the only thing holding High Point’s offense back from being dominant, as it attempts 3s on 43% of field goal attempts but connects on a middling 34% of them.
Star guard Rob Martin is second in scoring, averaging 15 points per game while shooting just 29% from deep. The issue is that both Martin and Anderson are shooting 29% from deep.
They're certainly better shooters than the numbers suggest though, so there's always a chance for a breakout.
Coach Clayman has a few other shooting options to rely on. Chase Johnston, who's shooting 40% from 3, hit the dagger to put High Point up nine on UNC Asheville, while both Braden Hausen and Scotty Washington are each chucking it from deep at a 36% rate.
Winthrop vs High Point Prediction
I’m laying the number with High Point.
Given that the two teams play a fast tempo, that should favor the one seed that has the health factor and the rest on its side.
The Eagles played a pair of nail-biters the past two days, while the Panthers hammered a terrible Gardner-Webb team and beat Asheville by four (the lead was bigger for most of the game).
My Pick: High Point -6.5
