Norfolk State Spartans vs Northern Kentucky Norse NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/15/24

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Spartans and Norse. The game is starting at 1:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Norse at Truist Arena in Highland Heights, KY. Get ready to place your bets! This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 139 points, and Northern Kentucky is favored by -3 vs. Norfolk State.

NORFOLK STATE SPARTANS VS NORTHERN KENTUCKY NORSE BETTING PICK

The Pick: Northern Kentucky Norse -3

This game will be played at Truist Arena at 1:00 ET on Sunday, December 15th.

WHY BET THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY NORSE:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-69 in favor of the Norse.
• Not only will Northern Kentucky pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -3.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 139 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.

Do the Spartans Have a Shot at a Win at Highland Heights?

Norfolk State fell to 4-5 on the season after a 94-69 road loss to Baylor on Wednesday. The Spartans were +25.5 point underdogs but managed to cover the spread.

After trailing 39-33 at halftime, Norfolk State allowed 55 points in the 2nd half while scoring 36. The total points for the game reached 163, exceeding the O/U line of 145.

Norfolk State’s offense put up 69 points in their last game, shooting 48.9% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 59.6%, thanks in large part to their 55.6% shooting from beyond the arc, hitting 10 of 18 three-point attempts.

The Spartans struggled at the free-throw line, converting just 61.9% of their 21 attempts. They grabbed 7 offensive rebounds and dished out 12 assists. Robert O. Wright III had a standout performance, recording 16 points and 13 assists, while shooting 70% from the field and 50% from three-point range.

Norfolk State’s defense struggled, giving up 94 points on 55% shooting from the field. The Spartans allowed 27 two-point field goals on 39 attempts, a 69% conversion rate.

From beyond the arc, Norfolk State gave up 9 threes on 26 attempts, with the opposing team shooting 34%. They also sent them to the line 19 times, where they hit 13 free throws (68%).

Will Northern Kentucky Secure A Victory as Home Favorites?

Northern Kentucky Norse Recent Game/Games

Northern Kentucky improved to 2-6 on the season with a 66-64 road win over the Jaguars on Saturday, December 7th. Despite being -7.5 favorites, the Norse didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 130 fell short of the 140.5 O/U line.

After trailing 33-29 at halftime, Northern Kentucky turned things around in the 2nd half, outscoring the Jaguars 37-31 to secure the win.

Northern Kentucky put up 66 points in their last game, shooting 44.8% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 51.7%. They connected on 34.6% of their three-point attempts, hitting 9 of 26 from deep, and shot 53.1% on two-pointers.

Paul Zilinskas led the way with 24 points, knocking down 6 of 9 threes, while Jarvis Walker added 23 points, shooting 66.7% overall and from beyond the arc. Trey Robinson contributed 19 points, hitting 70% of his shots, and Josh Dilling chipped in 17 points, making 5 of 9 from three-point range.

Despite Northern Kentucky’s defensive struggles, they still managed to hold their opponent to 64 points. The Norse allowed their opponent to shoot 51% from the field, including 51% from two-point range on 14/27 shooting.

From beyond the arc, Northern Kentucky gave up 10 threes on 20 attempts, a 50% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 9 times, where they converted 6 of their attempts.