Marshall Thundering Herd vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/30/24
Betting on today’s Thundering Herd and Hilltoppers game? Catch the action at E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, KY, as the Hilltoppers hosts this showdown at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 152.5 points, with Western Kentucky being favored by -7 over Marshall.
MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD VS WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers -7
This game will be played at E. A. Diddle Arena at 8:00 ET on Saturday, November 30th.
WHY BET THE WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-69 in favor of the Hilltoppers.
- Not only will Western Kentucky pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -7.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 152.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.
Do the Thundering Herd Have What it Takes in Bowling Green?
Marshall cruised to an 82-53 win over South Carolina State on Wednesday, November 27th, at home. The Thundering Herd, who entered the game as -10.5 favorites, covered the spread with ease. The total points for the game were 135, falling short of the 147.5 O/U line.
Marshall dominated the first half, leading 46-21 at the break. While they outscored the Bulldogs 36-32 in the second half, the game had a more competitive feel after halftime.
Marshall put up 82 points in their last game, shooting 43.3% from the field and 34.4% from beyond the arc, hitting 11 threes. Their effective field goal percentage was 53.3%, and they connected on 53.6% of their two-point attempts.
The Thundering Herd grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and dished out 19 assists. Mikal Dawson led the way with 18 points in 17 minutes, hitting 6 threes at a 46.2% rate.
Marshall’s defense held their opponent to 53 points, despite allowing them to shoot 43% from the field. The Thundering Herd gave up 15 two-point baskets on 28 attempts, a 53% shooting rate.
From beyond the arc, Marshall’s defense allowed 11 threes on 32 attempts, with the opponent hitting 34% of their shots. They also sent the opponent to the free-throw line 27 times, where they made 19, shooting 70%.
Can the Hilltoppers Pull Off a Home Win?
Western Kentucky’s season continued with an 87-68 road loss to the Wildcats on Tuesday. The Hilltoppers entered the game as +24.5 point underdogs but managed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 155, which was under the O/U line of 165.5.
After trailing 45-33 at halftime, WKU scored 35 points in the 2nd half while allowing 42. Despite the loss, covering the spread against a strong Kentucky team is a positive takeaway for the Hilltoppers.
Western Kentucky struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 31.8% from the field and 15.4% from three-point range, hitting only 4 of 26 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 34.8%, but they did manage to connect on 75.9% of their free throws, going 22 for 29 from the line.
Andrew Carr, Otega Oweh, and Julius Thedford each scored 18 points, with Carr shooting 75% from the field and adding 10 rebounds and 3 assists. The Hilltoppers finished with just 7 assists as a team, with Lamont Butler contributing 4 of them.
Western Kentucky’s defense struggled, giving up 87 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 40% from the field. They were particularly vulnerable inside, where they allowed 51% shooting on two-point attempts (17/33).
From beyond the arc, Western Kentucky’s defense held their opponent to 27% shooting, with 8 threes made on 29 attempts. However, they sent them to the free-throw line 42 times, where they converted 29 free throws (69%). The Hilltoppers also gave up 16 offensive rebounds.