New Mexico Lobos vs Fresno State Bulldogs NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/31/24

Looking to win big? The Lobos and Bulldogs face off at 8:00 ET on MWN. The Bulldogs are hosting the game at Save Mart Center in Fresno, CA. New Mexico is favored by -15.5 in this Mountain West conference matchup the against Fresno State. The over/under for the game is set at 158.5 points.

NEW MEXICO LOBOS VS FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Fresno State Bulldogs +15.5

This game will be played at Save Mart Center at 8:00 ET on Tuesday, December 31st.

WHY BET THE FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-69 in favor of the Bulldogs.
• Not only will Fresno State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +15.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 158.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.

Will New Mexico Make it Happen on the Road?

New Mexico improved to 9-3 on the season with a 76-68 road win over Colorado State on Saturday. The Lobos entered the game as +1.5 point underdogs but managed to cover the spread with the win.

New Mexico jumped out to a 41-25 lead at halftime, but allowed 43 points in the 2nd half while scoring 35. The game’s total points of 144 fell short of the 152.5 O/U line.

The Lobos put up 76 points in their last game, shooting 49.2% from the field and posting an effective field goal percentage of 54%. They hit 46.7% from beyond the arc, going 7-of-15, and connected on 77.8% of their free throws, making 7-of-9.

New Mexico’s two-point shooting was 50% (24/48), and they grabbed 11 offensive rebounds. Nique Clifford led the way with 17 points and 7 rebounds, while also dishing out 6 assists. Donovan Dent also contributed 6 assists, adding 14 points in the win.

New Mexico’s defense gave up 68 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 45% from the field on 27/60 shooting. The Lobos struggled to contain two-point shots, allowing 21/37 attempts to fall for a 56% success rate.

From beyond the arc, New Mexico held the other team to 6/23 shooting, or 26%. The Lobos also sent their opponents to the free-throw line 8 times, where they converted all their attempts. New Mexico allowed 12 offensive rebounds in the game.

Are the Bulldogs Ready for a Home Win?

Fresno State Bulldogs Recent Game/Games

The Bulldogs fell to 4-9 on the season after a 87-77 loss to UNLV on Saturday. Fresno State was a +15.5 point underdog going into the game, but managed to keep it closer than expected.

Fresno State was down 48-30 at halftime but outscored UNLV 47-39 in the 2nd half. The game’s total points of 164 went over the 144.5 O/U line.

Fresno State put up 77 points in their last game, shooting 46.6% from the field and 44.8% from three, hitting 13 of 29 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 58.6%, and they added 10 free throws on 16 attempts, shooting 62.5% from the line.

Dedan Thomas Jr. led the way with 21 points and 6 assists, while Jasir Tremble hit 5 threes, shooting 71.4% from deep and finishing with 19 points. Mykell Robinson contributed 18 points, 7 assists, and 8 rebounds, and Jailen Bedford also scored 18, hitting 3 of 4 from three.

Fresno State’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 87 points on 53% shooting from the field. They allowed their opponent to hit 61% of their two-point attempts, with 25 made shots inside the arc.

From three-point range, Fresno State’s defense allowed 10 threes on 24 attempts, a 41% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 9 times, where they made 7 free throws. Fresno State gave up 10 offensive rebounds in the game.