Marshall Thundering Herd vs Southern Miss Golden Eagles NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/21/24
This article was published on Dec 21, 2024. Today’s picks College Basketball picks

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Thundering Herd and Golden Eagles. The game is starting at 3:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Golden Eagles at Reed Green Coliseum in Hattiesburg, MS. Get ready to place your bets! Marshall is favored by -3.5 in this Sun Belt conference matchup the against Southern Miss. The over/under for the game is set at 147.5 points.
MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD VS SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Southern Miss Golden Eagles +3.5
This game will be played at Reed Green Coliseum at 3:00 ET on Saturday, December 21st.
WHY BET THE SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-69 in favor of the Golden Eagles.
- Not only will Southern Miss pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +3.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 147.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 145 points.
Can Marshall Secure a Road Victory?
Marshall evened their season record at 5-5 with a 79-70 win over Ohio on Saturday. The Thundering Herd were slight +1 underdogs going into the game but managed to cover the spread with the victory.
Marshall led 41-33 at halftime and maintained their lead by outscoring Ohio 38-37 in the second half. The game’s total points of 149 fell short of the 155.5 O/U line.
Marshall’s offense put up 79 points in their last game, shooting 52.7% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 60%. They connected on 42.1% of their three-point attempts, going 8-for-19 from deep, and hit 58.3% of their two-point shots. At the free-throw line, they made 13 of 19 attempts, good for 68.4%.
Mikal Dawson led the way, hitting 6 of 9 threes and finishing with 27 points on 9-for-12 shooting overall. AJ Clayton also shot 75%, knocking down 4 of 6 from beyond the arc, while AJ Brown contributed 22 points despite shooting 3 of 8 from three.
Marshall’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 70 points on 52% shooting from the field. They allowed their opponent to hit 58% of their two-point attempts, as they went 21/36 inside the arc.
From three-point range, Marshall’s defense allowed 8/19 shooting, or 42%. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 19 times, where they converted 13 free throws for a 68% rate. Marshall did limit second-chance opportunities, giving up just 4 offensive rebounds.
Can Southern Miss Secure a Home Victory?
Southern Miss fell to 3-7 on the season after a 69-65 home loss to Lamar on Tuesday. The Golden Eagles were +2 point underdogs going into the game and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 134, just under the O/U line of 137.5.
Southern Miss trailed 36-31 at halftime and narrowly outscored Lamar 34-33 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.
Southern Miss struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 2 of 13 threes (15.4%) in their last game, contributing to an overall field goal percentage of 42.1%. Their effective field goal percentage was 43.9%, with a 50% success rate on two-point attempts (22/44). At the free-throw line, they connected on 15 of 25 attempts, shooting 60%.
Neftali Alvarez led the way with 21 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds, shooting 50% from the field despite going 1 for 6 from three. Alexis Marmolejos added 20 points, hitting 3 of 7 threes, while Cody Pennebaker was efficient, making 6 of 10 shots overall and 3 of 5 from deep. Denijay Harris contributed 12 rebounds and 4 assists to go along with his 15 points.
Southern Miss gave up 69 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 42% from the field on 24 of 57 attempts. Inside the arc, they allowed 22 of 44 shooting for 50%.
From three-point range, Southern Miss held their opponent to 2 of 13 shooting, just 15%. They also sent them to the line 25 times, where they made 15 free throws for 60%. Southern Miss allowed 15 offensive rebounds.
