Citadel Bulldogs vs Central Arkansas Bears NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/16/24

Betting on today’s Bulldogs and Bears game? Catch the action at Farris Center in Conway, AR, as the Bears hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this game is set at 138.5 points, and Central Arkansas is favored by -3.5 against Citadel in a non-conference matchup.

CITADEL BULLDOGS VS CENTRAL ARKANSAS BEARS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Central Arkansas Bears -3.5

This game will be played at Farris Center at 7:00 ET on Monday, December 16th.

WHY BET THE CENTRAL ARKANSAS BEARS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-70 in favor of the Bears.
• Not only will Central Arkansas pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -3.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 138.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 148 points.

Can the Bulldogs Lock in a Win at Conway?

Citadel Bulldogs Recent Game/Games

The Bulldogs dropped to 1-4 on the season after an 86-58 home loss to Campbell on Thursday, December 12th. Citadel entered the game as +1 underdogs but didn’t cover the spread.

After trailing 39-33 at halftime, Citadel managed just 25 points in the 2nd half while allowing 47. The combined points of 144 went over the pre-game O/U line of 137.

The Citadel Bulldogs struggled offensively in their last game, scoring just 58 points with a field goal percentage of 41.8% (23/55). Their effective field goal percentage was 47.3%, and they hit only 5 of 24 three-point attempts, shooting 20.8% from beyond the arc. At the free-throw line, they connected on 7 of 12 attempts, shooting 58.3%.

Nolan Dorsey led the Bulldogs with 19 points and 5 assists, hitting 3 of 8 from three-point range. Keynan Davis and Caleb Zurliene each added 14 points, with Zurliene shooting 5 of 7 overall and 2 of 3 from deep. Terren Frank contributed 13 points and 9 rebounds, while Colby Duggan and Jasin Sinani each chipped in 12 points, with Sinani also grabbing 7 boards.

Even with Citadel giving up 86 points, their defense held the Bulldogs to 41% shooting overall, including just 5 made threes on 24 attempts, a 20% success rate from beyond the arc.

From the free-throw line, Citadel sent the Bulldogs to the stripe 12 times, where they converted 7 of those attempts, shooting 58%.

Will Central Arkansas Make it Happen at Home?

Central Arkansas Bears Recent Game/Games

Central Arkansas dropped to 1-8 on the season after an 82-57 loss to Arkansas on Saturday. Despite being +28 point underdogs, the Bears managed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 139, falling short of the 147.5 O/U line.

Central Arkansas trailed 46-28 at halftime and scored 29 points in the 2nd half while allowing 36. Though they kept the game closer than expected, the Bears continue to struggle this season.

Central Arkansas struggled offensively in their last game, scoring just 57 points on 33.3% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 40.7%, with a rough 25% from beyond the arc, hitting 7 of 28 attempts. They were more efficient from the free-throw line, converting 77.8% of their shots.

Boogie Fland led the team with 16 points and 9 assists, shooting 63.6% from the field and 50% from three. Jonas Aidoo was perfect from the field, hitting all 6 of his attempts, while D.J. Wagner connected on 75% of his threes, finishing with 13 points and 6 assists.

Despite Central Arkansas giving up 82 points, their defense held the opposing team to just 33% shooting from the field, as they went 18/54 overall. From inside the arc, the Bears allowed 11/26 shooting, which is 42%.

Central Arkansas also limited their opponent’s three-point shooting, as they hit only 7 of their 28 attempts, good for 25%. The Bears sent the other team to the line 18 times, where they converted 14 free throws for 77%. Central Arkansas gave up 6 offensive rebounds in the game.