Furman (15) vs. UConn (2) Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
The late window of NCAA Tournament games on Friday night includes a matchup between the No. 2 UConn Huskies and the No. 15 Furman Paladins. It is an East Region showdown at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
This marks just the second head-to-head meeting between these programs. They previously squared off in November 2015, when UConn took care of business 83-58. Still, these two teams know what each other is all about. UConn has won two of the last three national titles, while Furman made a March Madness appearance and upset No. 4 seed Virginia on a last-second shot before losing to eventual runner-up San Diego State in 2023.
Furman Paladins vs. UConn Huskies NCAA Tournament Point Spread and Betting
Unsurprisingly, this is one of the largest lines on the first-round docket. UConn is going off as a massive -20.5 favourite against the spread and -4500 on the moneyline. Furman is +1700 to pull off a titanic upset on the March Madness odds. The game total is set at 136.5 points.
It’s obviously difficult to see the Paladins winning this one outright, but can they cover? Well, they are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games away from home. The Huskies are just 4-7 ATS in their last 11 overall. Meanwhile, the Over is 3-1 in Furman’s last four contests and 10-5 in UConn’s last 15.
Furman Paladins (15)
The Southern Conference was always going to be a one-bid league – and going into the tournament, that one bid was not expected to include Furman. A 10-8 record was only good enough for the No. 6 seed, but the Paladins proceeded to cut down the nets in Asheville, North Carolina, with victories over Samford, UNC Greensboro, and top-seeded East Tennessee State.
The Paladins like to play slow, methodical basketball while putting the clamps down on defence. They rank No. 269 nationally in pace at 68.8 possessions per game, which is part of the reason why they are holding opponents to an average of 72.2 points. Furman is holding opponents to a 32.6 per cent clip from three.
UConn Huskies (2)
The stretch run of the 2025-26 campaign has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride for UConn. Head coach Dan Hurley’s team started the season 22-1 but is now a modest 7-4 in its last 11 outings. This mediocre stretch includes two losses to St. John’s, including by 20 points in the Big East Tournament. The Huskies also destroyed St. John’s 72-40 on February 25, which proves that they are completely all over the place these days.
Which UConn will show up for the Big Dance – the one that captured the title in both 2023 and 2024, or the one that played in the Big East championship game? Based on talent, experience, and coaching, it could be the former. Led by Solo Ball, seniors Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban, and freshman Braylon Mullins, the Huskies have the tools to be great on both ends of the floor.
March Madness Prediction: Who Will Win Furman vs. UConn?
As sizeable underdogs, you know the Paladins will implement their normal style of play in this matchup – to an even greater extent than usual, in fact. They want to minimize possessions and shorten the game, doing everything they can to make it competitive. Alex Wilkins (17.7 PPG) being productive would go a long way in that effort, but Furman probably doesn’t have enough outside shooting to complete an upset, because it’s not easy at all to score against UConn down low.
It may take the Huskies a game or two to reach peak form, but they should have more than enough to handle the Paladins. Let’s go with UConn 75, Furman 59.