The initial First Four NCAA Tournament game from Dayton on Wednesday is maybe the best matchup of No. 16 seeds in First Four history as Bryant takes on Wright State, which should have a sizable advantage in fan support because that school is located in Dayton.

This will be the first-ever meeting between Bryant and Wright State. The winner will face South Region No. 1 Arizona on Friday in the first round, and while both these teams are quite good neither is beating Arizona. A No. 16 seed has beaten a No. 1 just once in tournament history.

Before all else, Nitrobetting takes a peek at important game details that help you lock in on the best picks. Below, you can find event information, team and player stats, and the latest College Basketball odds. We also have timely betting trends and predictions at your disposal.

Bryant vs. Wright State Game Information

This. Is. March.#RaiderUP | #RaiderFamily pic.twitter.com/j0CBYrhVwy

— Wright State Men’s Basketball (@WSU_MBB) March 15, 2022

• When: Wednesday, March 16, 2022, 5:40 PM ET
• Where: UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio
• TV: truTV
• Radio: WOON 1240 AM (Bryant) / WZDA 103.9 FM (Wright State)
• Live Stream: truTV.com
• NCAAB Betting Odds: TBA

READ MORE: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. Texas Southern NCAAB Odds and Preview – March 15th, 2022

Why Bet on the Bryant Bulldogs?

Bryant (22-9) was the Northeast Conference regular-season and tournament champion. The Bulldogs enter on a seven-game winning streak after routing Wagner 70-43 in the NEC Tournament title game on March 8.

The nation’s leading scorer Peter Kiss scored 34 points and Charles Pride had a double-double with 13 points and 17 rebounds as top-seeded Bryant University men’s basketball team won its first-ever Northeast Conference Championship. Kiss, the NEC Tournament MVP, had an NCAA-best 10th 30-point game of the year and added six rebounds, five steals and three assists. Pride posted his 10th double-double of the year, tying his career-high with 17 boards. Hall Elisias blocked eight shots. Kiss, Pride and Elisias were all named to the NEC All-Tournament Team. Bryant pulled ahead with a 25-2 run in the first half and never looked back.

Kiss leads the nation in scoring with 25.1 points per game. He has 652 points this season, the most in a season in DI program history. The 652 points are also the fifth-most in program history. They are the most since John Williams scored 682 points in 2004-05. Pride now has 267 rebounds this season, tied for the second-most in DI program history, and has 1,096 career points. Kiss and Pride continue to be the nation’s highest-scoring duo, averaging 43.1 points per game.

Bryant’s dominant tournament title victory was its 16th in 17 games. This team shoots a lot of three-pointers and tries to capitalize on second-chance opportunities. The Bulldogs’ defense is average, but their philosophy is to play at a pace on offense that opponents generally can’t handle.

The Bulldogs are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007-08 (Division II). It will be the program’s eighth all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament and its first at the Division I level. Bryant began its transition to DI in 2008-09 and was first eligible for the postseason in 2012-13.

Bryant is 4-18 against current members of the Horizon League. That record includes a 4-17 mark against former NEC member Robert Morris.

Why Bet on the Wright State Raiders?

Wright State (21-13) was fourth in the Horizon League regular season but upset Northern Kentucky 72-71 in the conference tournament title game. Trey Calvin made a jumper from just inside the free-throw line with 10.5 seconds left to complete a late comeback from 16 points down.

Marques Warrick got himself open off a screen and drilled a 3-pointer with 22 seconds left to put Northern Kentucky in front 71-70, and the Norse had time to take the last shot of the game, but Bryson Langdon, momentarily open at the 3-point line, had a defender arrive at the same time as the ball and his desperation shot with a hand in his face was off. Calvin hit 3 of 5 from behind the arc and finished with 21 points to lead Wright State. The Raiders previously won conference titles and made subsequent NCAA appearances in 1993 (Mid-Continent Conf.), 2007 and 2018 (Horizon League).

Wright State travels 12 miles across town to play at UD Arena and the Raiders are no strangers to UD Arena. Over the years Wright State has played 21 games at UD Arena, winning 14 of them. The Raiders last played at UD Arena on Dec. 13, 1997, against Dayton.

Tanner Holden has made 201 free throws (No. 1 in the country) on 257 total attempts (No. 2 nationally) entering the NCAA Tournament. Holden’s 674 total points scored is No. 8 in the country, while his 19.8 points per game average is No. 22 nationally. Grant Basile’s rebound work is also among the best in the nation: ranking 23rd nationally with 294 total rebounds, No. 36 nationally in total rebounds/game average with his 8.6 boards per contest and No. 52 in the country with his 6.00 defensive rebounds/game average.

Bryant vs. Wright State Betting Trends

• Bryant is 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games overall.
• Bryant is 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games following a straight up win.
• Bryant is 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS win.
• Wright State is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
• Wright State is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
• Wright State is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Bryant vs. Wright State Expert Betting Predictions

Wright State 77, Bryant 75

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at NitroBetting news. Stay tuned for more NCAAB game previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest Basketball betting odds on the sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.