Utah Valley Wolverines vs Idaho State Bengals NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/18/24
Looking to win big? The Wolverines and Bengals face off at 9:00 ET on ESPN+. The Bengals are hosting the game at Reed Gym in Pocatello, ID. The over/under for this game is set at 135.5 points, and Idaho State is favored by -1.5 against Utah Valley in a non-conference matchup.
UTAH VALLEY WOLVERINES VS IDAHO STATE BENGALS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Idaho State Bengals -1.5
This game will be played at Reed Gym at 9:00 ET on Wednesday, December 18th.
WHY BET THE IDAHO STATE BENGALS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 81-66 in favor of the Bengals.
- Not only will Idaho State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -1.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 135.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Does Utah Valley Have What it Takes to Win as Road Underdogs?
The Wolverines fell to 4-6 on the season after a 70-66 loss to Jacksonville State on Saturday. Utah Valley entered the game as +2.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The combined 136 points fell short of the 140.5 O/U line.
Utah Valley trailed 32-31 at halftime and were outscored 38-35 in the 2nd half. They’ll look to bounce back after another close loss.
Utah Valley struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 37.1% from the field and 20.7% from beyond the arc, hitting only 6 of 29 three-point attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 41.9%, and they managed 9 assists as a team.
Jaron Pierre Jr. led the way with 26 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 3 of 6 from deep. Dominick Nelson added 20 points, while Tanner Toolson contributed 19 points and 8 boards, despite hitting just 1 of 6 from three-point range.
Utah Valley’s defense gave up 70 points in this one, with their opponents shooting 41% from the field on 23 of 55 attempts. Inside the arc, they held the other team to 38% shooting, as they made just 15 of 39 two-point attempts.
From three-point range, Utah Valley allowed 8 made threes on 16 attempts, a 50% shooting performance. They also sent the other team to the line 20 times, where they converted 16 free throws, shooting 80%. Utah Valley gave up 7 offensive rebounds.
Taking a Look at the Bengals Chances at Home
Idaho State Bengals Recent Game/Games
Idaho State improved to 2-5 on the season with a 71-55 win over Oral Roberts on Saturday, December 7th. Playing at home, the Bengals entered the game as -5.5 favorites and covered the spread with the victory.
Leading 32-28 at halftime, Idaho State held Oral Roberts to just 27 points in the 2nd half while scoring 39 of their own. The game’s total points of 126 fell short of the 142.5 over/under line.
Idaho State’s offense put up 71 points in their last game, shooting 40.4% from the field. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 2 of 18 threes for an 11.1% rate, but connected on 53.8% of their two-point attempts.
The Bengals were strong from the free-throw line, making 23 of 27 attempts (85.2%), and grabbed 17 offensive rebounds. Dylan Darling dished out 9 assists, and Jake O’Neil pulled down 19 rebounds, despite shooting 4 of 12 from the field.
Idaho State’s defense held their opponent to just 55 points, allowing them to shoot 40% from the field on 23 of 57 attempts. Inside the arc, the opponent connected on 21 of 39 shots, good for 53% shooting.
From three-point range, Idaho State limited their opponent to just 2 made threes on 18 attempts, an 11% success rate. The opponent also went 23 of 27 from the free-throw line, shooting 85%. Idaho State gave up 17 offensive rebounds in the game.