C. Carolina Chanticleers vs Western Michigan Broncos Point Spread Picks

Coastal Carolina was 3-15 in the Sun Belt last season and opens the new campaign on the road. They were also 3-13 on the road. Coach Justin Gray begins his second season, and in his first year, the offense struggled (42.8% from the field). There are new looks everywhere, with the team on a 7-13 ATS run. Western Michigan was 9-9 in the MAC last year and is on a 9-4 ATS run. 6-10 forward Max Burton (5.2 rebounds per game) returns, point guard E.J. Ryans developed some experience, while six transfers come aboard. 6-6 guard Trey Lewis comes over from Purdue Fort Wayne, and senior Justice Williams (LSU, Robert Morris) averaged 12.2 points per game two years ago and sat out last season. Play Western Michigan. 

Coastal Carolina has no returning starters, but that is not necessarliy a bad ting as the Chanticleers finished 9-22 last season and 5-13 in the Sun Belt. New coach Justin Gray has brought in plenty of talent that will be competitve immediately, including a couple of 7-footers in Noah Amenhauser and Mabor Majak. Marcus Watson also is expected to be back after recovering from an ACL injury. Watson averaged 13.4 points in two seasons with North Carolina A&T. The Chanticleers covered six of their last nine games in 2023-24 and four of five at home. Western Michigan is picked to finish near the bottom of the Mid-American Conference after losing four of its top six scorers from a 12-20 team. The Broncos lost seven of their last eight road games and they have lost 10 Monday road games in a row. Take Coastal Carolina.