Sacred Heart Pioneers

Seven times in 2025-26 the Pioneers lost as favorites, and backing them in that spot cost 3.84 units; only 32 Division I teams lost more. Merrimack beat them in all three meetings.

Short favorites, long losses

Sacred Heart were favored 15 times and won eight. All seven defeats came at prices between -108 and -238, among them -118 at home to Iona, -125 at home to Merrimack, -135 at Niagara, -238 at Canisius, -108 at home to Fairfield. The 15 priced favorite games lost 3.84 units, and they covered six.

Two road upsets in January

On 14 January the Pioneers won 86-80 at Siena at +320, getting 8.5. On 30 January they won 98-91 at Quinnipiac at +340, again getting 8.5. Those two sat inside five straight wins from 14 to 30 January. January finished 5-4 and 3.45 units up, the only month in the black apart from March, 0.42 up on a 1-1 record.

Across all 31 priced games, one unit to win lost 4.79. Away from home the record was 5-13 and the moneyline lost 3.76 over 17. At home they were 8-5, and the bet still lost 1.45 over 12.

Against the spread

They covered 14 of 31, 45.2%. At home it was six and six; on the road, 7 of 17. As underdogs, eight covers in 16; as favorites, six in 15. At Rider on 19 January they won 105-85 laying 4.5.

MAAC opponents

Merrimack won three times, by 8, 17 and 22, the last in the MAAC tournament quarterfinal, and covered every one. Fairfield won both meetings and covered both. Rider and Mount St. Mary’s lost both and failed to cover either. Marist won twice but Sacred Heart covered both, losing 76-72 and 65-63.

The total

Seventeen unders against 15 overs gives no edge; the Pioneers scored 75.21 and allowed 76.61 a game.

Questions and answers