Bethune-Cookman Wildcats vs Virginia Cavaliers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/12/24

Looking to win big? The Wildcats and Cavaliers face off at 7:00 ET on ACCN. The Cavaliers are hosting the game at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, VA. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 126 points, and Virginia is favored by -16 at home against Bethune-Cookman.

BETHUNE-COOKMAN WILDCATS VS VIRGINIA CAVALIERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Bethune-Cookman Wildcats +16

This game will be played at John Paul Jones Arena at 7:00 ET on Thursday, December 12th.

WHY BET THE BETHUNE-COOKMAN WILDCATS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-68 in favor of the Cavaliers.
• Even though we have Virginia winning straight-up, we like Bethune-Cookman at +16.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 126 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.

Will Bethune-Cookman Make it Happen on the Road?

Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Recent Game/Games

Bethune-Cookman fell to 2-6 on the season after a 79-62 road loss to Minnesota on Sunday. Entering the game as +17 underdogs, the Wildcats managed to keep the score within that margin, resulting in a push against the spread.

Trailing 38-26 at halftime, Bethune-Cookman scored 36 points in the 2nd half but allowed 41. The total points for the game reached 141, surpassing the O/U line of 131.5.

Bethune-Cookman’s offense put up 62 points in their last game, shooting 46.2% from the field. They were particularly effective from beyond the arc, hitting 50% of their threes (10/20) and posting an effective field goal percentage of 55.8%.

Brayon Freeman led the way from deep, connecting on 5 of 7 threes (71.4%) and finishing with 21 points and 5 assists. Dawson Garcia added 23 points and 5 rebounds, while Tre Thomas contributed 18 points, hitting 3 of 5 from three-point range.

Bethune-Cookman struggled defensively, giving up 79 points on 47% shooting from the field. Their opponents connected on 29 of 61 attempts, including 18 of 38 from two-point range.

From beyond the arc, Bethune-Cookman allowed 11 threes on 23 attempts, also at a 47% clip. They sent their opponents to the line 12 times, where they hit 10 free throws, an 83% rate. The Wildcats also gave up 12 offensive rebounds.

Does Virginia Have What it Takes at Home?

Virginia fell to 5-4 on the season after a 63-51 road loss to SMU on Saturday. Entering the game as +9.5 underdogs, the Cavaliers not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.

Virginia trailed 30-28 at halftime but managed just 23 points in the 2nd half while allowing 33. The total points for the game were 114, falling short of the O/U line of 135.5.

Virginia’s offense struggled in their last game, scoring just 51 points with a 34% field goal percentage. They hit only 28.6% of their two-point attempts, but connected on 42.1% from beyond the arc, making 8 of 19 threes.

Kario Oquendo led the way with 21 points, hitting 4 of 6 threes and shooting 60% overall. Isaac McKneely added 17 points, hitting 4 threes at 50%, while Samet Yiğitoğlu was efficient inside, shooting 87.5% and grabbing 6 rebounds.

Virginia’s defense held their opponent to 63 points on 42% shooting from the field. They gave up 15 two-point baskets on 25 attempts, a 60% conversion rate.

From beyond the arc, Virginia limited their opponent to 6 made threes on 25 attempts, a 24% shooting performance. They also sent them to the free-throw line 20 times, where they made 15, shooting 75%. Virginia allowed 8 offensive rebounds.