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<p>The Catamounts and Warriors are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Warriors will host the game at Hammel Court in North Andover, MA. Vermont is the -6 point favorites in this non-conference matchup against Merrimack College. The over/under for the game is set at 128 points.</p><h3>VERMONT CATAMOUNTS VS MERRIMACK COLLEGE WARRIORS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Vermont Catamounts -6</p><p>This game will be played at Hammel Court at 7:00 ET on Saturday, November 9th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE VERMONT CATAMOUNTS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 81-67 in favor of the Catamounts.</li><li>Not only will Vermont pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -6.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 128 points, and we like the over with a projected 148 points.</li></ul><h3>Will Vermont Shock Everyone at Hammel Court?</h3><h3>Vermont Catamounts Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>Vermont faced a tough challenge on Wednesday, November 6th, as they went on the road to take on Auburn. The Catamounts were +17.5 point underdogs going into the game and ended up losing 94-43.</p> 

<p>Vermont trailed 46-21 at halftime and were outscored 48-22 in the second half. The total points for the game were 137, which was under the O/U line of 143.</p><p>Vermont's offense struggled mightily in their last game, scoring just 43 points on 25.9% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 31%, and they hit only 21.7% of their threes, going 5-for-23 from beyond the arc. Inside the arc, they connected on just 28.6% of their two-point attempts.</p> <p>The Catamounts managed 10 offensive rebounds and dished out 6 assists. At the free-throw line, they shot 72.7%, making 8 of 11 attempts.</p><p>Vermont's defense struggled, giving up 94 points on 56% shooting from the field. They allowed 36 made baskets on 64 attempts.</p> <p>From three-point range, Vermont's opponents hit 16 of 35 shots, good for 45%. They also sent them to the line 11 times, where they made 6 free throws.</p><h3>Can Merrimack College Deliver Being Underdogs at Home?</h3><h3>Merrimack College Warriors Records</h3> 

<p>Last season, Merrimack finished with a 19-12 overall record, including a 15-4 mark in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. At home, they posted a 10-3 record, winning by an average of 7.5 points per game. On the road, they went 9-9, with an average scoring margin of +0.1 points per game.</p> 

<p>The Warriors were 18-12 against the spread, with an 11-6 record on the road. As the favorite, they went 17-6 straight-up, but were 10-12 ATS. When listed as the underdog, they were 8-0 ATS. Their games averaged 132.4 points, and they had a 12-19 over/under record, with an average O/U line of 134.5 points.</p><h3>Merrimack College Warriors Offense Stats</h3>

<p>The Warriors averaged 69.2 points per game last season, ranking 260th in possessions per game (64.8). Their field goal percentage was 43% (263rd), with an effective field goal percentage of 50% (243rd). Merrimack was 108th in two-point percentage at 53% but struggled from beyond the arc, making 30% of their attempts, ranking 362nd. They made 7.3 threes per game (202nd) on 23.6 attempts (109th). The Warriors also averaged 13.7 free throws made per game, placing 187th.</p>

<h3>Merrimack College Warriors Top Returning Offensive Players</h3>

<p>Adam Clark, a guard, returns after averaging 13.4 points, 3.9 assists, and 2.5 rebounds in 33 games last season. Devon Savage, another guard, also played in 33 games, contributing 10.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.</p><p>Last season, Merrimack College was one of the top defensive teams in the nation, allowing just 65.4 points per game, which ranked 21st in the country. They were also strong at defending the three-point line, holding opponents to 29.8% shooting, placing them 87th nationally. Merrimack allowed 17.1 free throws per game, ranking 115th in that category.</p> <p>The Warriors were aggressive defensively, averaging 9.8 steals per game, which ranked 9th in the country. They also averaged 3.7 blocked shots per game, placing them 131st nationally.</p>

Vermont Catamounts vs Merrimack College Warriors NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/9/24

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The 2020 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals tip off Tuesday, September 15, as the fourth-seeded Miami Heat, take on the third-seeded Boston Celtics in the bubble. Of course, there’s no home-court advantage and fans on the stands, but we’re about to see one of the most interesting playoff series in the last few years.

Both Miami and Boston upset the odds in the semis, showing some impressive displays, especially the Heat. They meet each other in the playoffs for the first time since 2012 when the Heat beat the Celtics in the conference finals in seven games.

Hereof, we have prepared all need-to-know betting tips and trends for the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals between Miami and Boston along with the latest odds update and our betting predictions.
<h3><strong>Injuries/Suspensions</strong></h3>
The Heat are coming in full strength, while the Celtics have some problems. Gordon Hayward is still recovering from an ankle injury, and the Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said that the 30-year-forward should return at some point the conference finals.

Hayward will certainly miss the opener Tuesday, and we’ll call him questionable for Game 2.
<h3><strong>The Line</strong></h3>
The No. 3 Celtics are -132 favorites to win the Eastern Conference title on <strong><a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/mybookie/">MyBookie</a></strong>, while the Heat are listed at +112 odds to reach the 2020 NBA Finals on <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betonline/"><strong>BetOnline</strong></a>.

Boston has dominated Miami over the previous few years, winning 13 of their last 17 encounters, so the bookies expect this trend to continue. I think the bookies have underestimated the Heat who have been terrific in the previous two rounds.
<h3><strong>What's at Stake?</strong></h3>
The Heat are searching for their first NBA Finals since 2014 when they were beaten by Tim Duncan and the Spurs in five games. On the other side, the Celtics haven’t been in the NBA Finals since 2010 and a loss to the Lakers in seven games.

Interestingly, the Celtics have been defeated in the conference finals three times over the last eight years.
<h3><strong>The Spot</strong></h3>
Miami is 8-1 SU and ATS on the postseason. The Heat swept the Pacers in the first round and stunned the top-seeded Bucks in the second round, so their confidence must be sky-high.

Boston swept the 76ers in the first round, but the Celtics had to play seven games against the Toronto Raptors in the semifinals, so they could struggle with fatigue. The Celtics eliminated the reigning champs playing without Gordon Hayward, and there will be some tired legs, for sure.
<h3><strong>The Matchup</strong></h3>
The Celtics went small against Toronto, as Marcus Smart replaced Hayward in the starting lineup, joining Kemba Walker in the backcourt. The Heat love to play small-ball, too, with Jae Crowder at four, while Duncan Robinson and Jimmy Butler both can help on the low post.

This should be a proper defensive battle between two teams that match each other very well. They both like to play at a slower pace, averaging just over 96 possessions per 48 minutes.

The Celtics have the best defensive ratings this postseason, allowing just 102.0 points per 100 possessions, while the Heat are fourth with 106.3 points allowed per 100 possessions. Boston leads the way in the opponent field goal percentage (40.5%) and 3-point percentage (30.5%). Miami is sixth in opponent FG% (44.5%) and fifth in opponent 3P% (34.8%).

On the other side of the ball, the Heat are tallying 114.9 points per 100 possessions on 46.1% shooting from the field and 38.0% from beyond the arc. The Celtics are scoring 109.8 points per 100 possessions on 45.0% shooting from the field and 34.1% from downtown.

The defense will be a key factor, no doubt, but whoever wants to win the series will have to find a way to execute offensively. Jimmy Butler and Jayson Tatum will guard each other for most of the time, but, as I’ve said, both teams possess excellent defensive awareness and are capable of switching everything.

The Celtics need to slow down Goran Dragic, as the 34-year-old Slovenian is averaging 21.1 points and 4.7 assists this postseason. Duncan Robinson is a lethal 3-point shooter and could an X-factor for the Heat in this matchup, while the Celtics hope to see more from centers, Daniel Theis and Robert Williams.
<h3><strong>The Bets</strong></h3>
Boston is 13-4 straight up in its last 17 games against Miami, but the Heat are 8-4 ATS in their previous 12 encounters with the Celtics. When it comes to the postseason, the Heat are 8-4 SU and 7-5 ATS in their last 12 playoff matchups with the Celtics.

The under has hit in five of the last six encounters between Boston and Miami, and I suggest you keep it in mind when betting through the series. As I’ve mentioned, these are the best two defensive teams in the Eastern Conference over the last few four weeks.

I would dare to predict the winner, but this clash could easily go either way. Betting on exactly seven games at +200 perfectly makes sense, and I expect to see a nail-biting series. Both teams are led by great tacticians, but Erik Spoelstra has a couple of championships under his belt, so I’m taking the Heat.

2020 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals: Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics – Pick, Odds Prediction

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