The Charlotte 49ers are losers of four straight, and coach Mark Price lost his job after a 64-50 setback at Chattanoga on Dec. 10. "We're trending in the wrong direction," 49ers athletics director Judy Rose said. Rose also said she didn't see the 49ers playing hard for Price, particularly in the defeat at Chattanooga, when Charlotte managed just two offensive rebounds.

Assistant Houston Fancher has been named the interim coach, and the 49ers hope to get the same effect as East Carolina got after its own coaching change, winning three straight under Michael Perry.

I think the coaching change will give Charlotte a boost, and I'm taking the points on the visitors in this matchup.

My selection is an 8* play on Charlotte 49ers.