Dayton Flyers vs Cincinnati Bearcats NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/20/24

Betting on today’s Flyers and Bearcats game? Catch the action at Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, OH, as the Bearcats hosts this showdown at 8:30 ET on ESPNU. This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 138.5 points, and Cincinnati is favored by -3.5 vs. Dayton.

DAYTON FLYERS VS CINCINNATI BEARCATS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Cincinnati Bearcats -3.5

This game will be played at Heritage Bank Center at 8:30 ET on Friday, December 20th.

WHY BET THE CINCINNATI BEARCATS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-68 in favor of the Bearcats.
• Not only will Cincinnati 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 146 points.

Does Dayton Have a Shot at a Road Win?

Dayton improved to 9-2 on the season with a narrow 66-65 win over UNLV on Tuesday. The Flyers were -10.5 favorites but didn’t cover the spread, and the game’s total points of 131 fell short of the 140.5 O/U line.

After trailing 28-27 at halftime, Dayton outscored UNLV 39-37 in the second half to secure the win at home.

Dayton’s offense put up 66 points in their last game, shooting 47.1% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 51%, with a strong 63.3% on two-point attempts (19/30), but they struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 5 of 21 threes (23.8%).

At the free-throw line, the Flyers connected on 81.2%, going 13 for 16. They dished out 15 assists, with Dedan Thomas Jr. leading the way with 6, along with his team-high 16 points. Jaden Henley added 15 points, shooting 62.5% from the field.

Dayton’s defense gave up 65 points, allowing their opponent to shoot 47% from the field. Inside the arc, the Flyers struggled, with their opponent hitting 63% of their two-point attempts, going 19/30.

From three-point range, Dayton’s defense was more effective, holding their opponent to 5/21 shooting, or 23%. The Flyers sent their opponent to the free-throw line 16 times, where they made 13, shooting 81%. Dayton also allowed 7 offensive rebounds.

Can Cincinnati Pull Off a Home Win?

The Bearcats improved to 8-1 on the season with a 68-65 win over Xavier on Saturday. Cincinnati, who were -8 favorites, didn’t cover the spread, but they’ll be happy to get the win. The game’s total points of 133 fell short of the O/U line of 146.5.

After trailing 31-30 at halftime, Cincinnati outscored Xavier 38-34 in the second half to secure the win. The Bearcats’ defense stepped up after the break, allowing them to edge out their in-state rivals.

Cincinnati’s offense struggled from the field in their last game, shooting just 37.9% overall and 25% from beyond the arc, hitting 5 of 20 three-point attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 41.4%, and they managed 19 points from the free-throw line, shooting 73.1% from the stripe.

Zach Freemantle led the Bearcats with 18 points and 7 rebounds, despite shooting 37.5% from the field and 20% from three-point range. Ryan Conwell added 17 points, connecting on 3 of 8 from deep, while Dillon Mitchell contributed 10 rebounds and shot 80%, finishing with 11 points.

Despite Cincinnati’s defense holding their opponent to 65 points, the Bearcats couldn’t capitalize on the offensive end. They allowed their opponent to shoot 37% from the field, including 44% on two-point attempts, where they connected on 17 of 38 shots.

From beyond the arc, Cincinnati’s defense limited their opponent to just 5 threes on 20 attempts, a 25% shooting performance. At the free-throw line, Cincinnati’s opponent went 19/26, hitting 73% of their foul shots. The Bearcats also gave up 12 offensive rebounds.