Jackson State Tigers vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/20/24

Looking to win big? The Tigers and Hilltoppers face off at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The Hilltoppers are hosting the game at E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, KY. The over/under for this game is set at 153.5 points, and Western Kentucky is favored by -15.5 against Jackson State in a non-conference matchup.

JACKSON STATE TIGERS VS WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Jackson State Tigers +15.5

This game will be played at E. A. Diddle Arena at 8:00 ET on Wednesday, November 20th.

WHY BET THE JACKSON STATE TIGERS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-69 in favor of the Hilltoppers.
• Even though we have Western Kentucky winning straight-up, we like Jackson State at +15.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 153.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 148 points.

Will Jackson State Win on the Road?

Jackson State Tigers Recent Game/Games

Jackson State fell 94-81 to Vanderbilt on Saturday, November 16th. Despite the loss, the Tigers were +27.5 point underdogs and managed to cover the spread.

After trailing 52-36 at halftime, Jackson State outscored Vanderbilt 45-42 in the second half. The game’s total points of 175 exceeded the O/U line of 152.

Jackson State put up 81 points in their last game, despite shooting just 39.7% from the field. They hit 36.8% from three-point range, connecting on 7 of 19 attempts, and were strong from the free-throw line, making 24 of 30 for 80%.

The Tigers grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and had only 8 assists. Jason Edwards, Shannon Grant, and Marcus Watson Jr. each scored 16 points, with Grant adding 10 rebounds. Tyler Nickel and Jayme Mitchell Jr. both hit 50% from three, with Mitchell going 3 for 6 and Nickel 4 for 8.

Jackson State’s defense struggled, giving up 94 points on 52% shooting. They allowed 33 field goals on 63 attempts.

From three-point range, their opponent hit 16 of 38 shots, while Jackson State sent them to the line 17 times, where they made 12 free throws.

Are Western Kentucky Ready for a Home Win?

Western Kentucky improved to 3-0 with a 66-61 win over Lipscomb on Sunday. The Hilltoppers, who were -5 point favorites, pushed against the spread. The game’s total points of 127 fell well short of the 160-point O/U line.

After trailing 31-30 at halftime, WKU tightened up defensively in the 2nd half, allowing just 30 points while scoring 36 of their own to secure the win.

Western Kentucky struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 38.1% from the field and 22.7% from beyond the arc, finishing with 66 points. Their effective field goal percentage was 41.3%, and they managed only 9 assists as a team.

Don McHenry led the Hilltoppers with 21 points, hitting 3 of 8 from three-point range. Babacar Faye added 17 points and 9 rebounds, while Enoch Kalambay contributed 11 points and 10 boards.

Western Kentucky put on a strong defensive performance, holding their opponent to just 61 points on 38% shooting from the field. They were particularly effective at defending the three-point line, where they limited their opponent to just 5 made threes on 22 attempts, a 22% shooting rate.

Inside the arc, Western Kentucky allowed 19 two-point field goals on 41 attempts, a 46% shooting rate. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 18 times, where they made 13 free throws, good for 72%. Western Kentucky gave up 10 offensive rebounds in the game.