East Tennessee State Buccaneers vs James Madison Dukes NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/3/24

The Buccaneers and Dukes are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Dukes will host the game at Atlantic Union Bank Center in Harrisonburg, VA. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 141 points, and James Madison is favored by -3 at home against East Tennessee State.

EAST TENNESSEE STATE BUCCANEERS VS JAMES MADISON DUKES BETTING PICK

The Pick: James Madison Dukes -3

This game will be played at Atlantic Union Bank Center at 7:00 ET on Tuesday, December 3rd.

WHY BET THE JAMES MADISON DUKES:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 80-68 in favor of the Dukes.
• Not only will James Madison pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -3.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 141 points, and we like the over with a projected 148 points.

Will the Buccaneers Pull Through as the Away Underdog?

East Tennessee State Buccaneers Recent Game/Games

East Tennessee State improved to 3-4 on the season with a 79-57 win over Austin Peay on Saturday, November 30th. Playing at home, the Buccaneers were favored by 9 points and covered the spread with the victory.

Leading 35-28 at halftime, ETSU outscored Austin Peay 44-29 in the 2nd half. The total points for the game ended at 136, matching the over/under line.

East Tennessee State put up 79 points in their last game, shooting 47.6% from the field and 38.1% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 54%, with a 52.4% success rate on two-point attempts.

The Buccaneers grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and dished out 20 assists. John Buggs III and LJ Thomas each scored 15 points, with Buggs hitting 3 of 5 from deep, while Quimari Peterson added 13 points and 9 assists.

East Tennessee State’s defense gave up 57 points, with their opponent shooting 47% from the field, including 52% on two-point attempts (22/42). From beyond the arc, the opposition hit 8 of 21 threes, good for 38%.

At the free-throw line, East Tennessee State’s opponent went 11/17, shooting 64%. The Buccaneers also allowed 15 offensive rebounds in the game.

Can the Dukes Live Up to the Hype at Home?

James Madison Dukes Recent Game/Games

The Dukes dropped to 3-4 on the season after a 66-61 home loss to George Mason on Friday, November 29th. Entering the game as +2 underdogs, James Madison not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.

After trailing 26-24 at halftime, the Dukes scored 37 points in the 2nd half but allowed 40 points. The game’s total points of 127 fell short of the 140.5 O/U line.

James Madison struggled from the field in their last game, shooting just 35.9% overall and 25% from beyond the arc, hitting 10 of 40 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 43.8%, and they managed 61 points in the contest.

Jalen Haynes led the Dukes with 20 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 61.5% from the field. Bryce Lindsay added 19 points, connecting on 5 of 10 three-point attempts, while K.D. Johnson and Darius Maddox each shot 57.1% overall.

James Madison’s defense held their opponent to 66 points on 35% shooting from the field. They gave up 13 two-point baskets on 24 attempts, a 54% success rate for the opposing team.

From beyond the arc, the Dukes limited their opponent to 10 threes on 40 attempts, a 25% shooting performance. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 7 times, where they made 5, shooting 71%.