Merrimack vs. Sacred Heart Dunkel Predictions & Vegas Odds - MAAC Tournament
06 March 2026

The No. 1 seed Merrimack Warriors (21-10, 17-3 MAAC) are favored by 6.5 points in the MAAC Tournament when they square off the No. 9 seed Sacred Heart Pioneers (14-18, 9-11 MAAC) Friday at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, tipping off at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The winner moves one game closer to claiming a guaranteed place in the NCAA Tournament bracket. The matchup's point total is 144.5.
Merrimack came out on top in its last outing 73-66 against Niagara on Sunday. In Merrimack's win, Ernest Shelton led the way with a team-high 18 points (adding two rebounds and two assists). Sacred Heart enters this game on the heels of a 91-80 victory against Iona on Thursday. Nyle Ralph-Beyer recorded 26 points, four rebounds and one assist for Sacred Heart.
Merrimack vs. Sacred Heart Odds and Game Time
- When: Friday, March 6, 2026 at 6 p.m. ET
- Where: Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Spread favorite: Merrimack -6.5
- Over/Under: 144.5 points
How to watch Merrimack vs. Sacred Heart
- TV Channel: ESPN+
- Check out the rest of our Dunkel Index NCAA Basketball Picks!
Betting the Over/Under: Merrimack vs. Sacred Heart
- Merrimack and its opponents have combined to hit the over on Friday's over/under of 144.5 points seven times this season.
- In Sacred Heart's 31 games this season, 23 finished with more combined points than Friday's total of 144.5.
- Together, the two teams combine for 145.4 points per game, 0.9 points more than the point total of 144.5 for this contest.
- These two teams surrender a combined 144.3 points per game, 0.2 points less than this contest's over/under.
- Merrimack has seen a 136.7 average over/under in its games this season, 7.8 less than the over/under in this matchup.
- A difference of 8.4 points separates the average over/under in Sacred Heart's games (152.9 points) and this game's over/under (144.5).
Betting the Spread: Merrimack vs. Sacred Heart
- Merrimack has 19 wins against the spread in 31 games this year.
- So far this season, the Warriors have been installed as favorites by a 6.5-point margin or more eight times and are 4-4 ATS in those games.
- In Sacred Heart's 31 games this year, it has 15 wins against the spread.
- So far this year, the Pioneers have been installed as underdogs by a 6.5-point margin or more eight times and are 4-4 ATS in those games.
- Merrimack is 9-2 against the spread, and 11-0 overall, at home this year.
- As a 6.5-point favorite or greater at home, Merrimack is 3-2 ATS.
- Away from home, Sacred Heart is 8-10 against the spread, and 5-13 overall.
- On the road, Sacred Heart is unbeaten ATS (1-0) as 6.5-point underdogs or more.
