Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons vs Northern Kentucky Norse NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/1/25

Betting on today’s Mastodons and Norse game? Catch the action at Truist Arena in Highland Heights, KY, as the Norse hosts this showdown at 12:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this game is set at 143.5 points, and Northern Kentucky is favored by -2.5 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne in a Horizon League conference matchup.

PURDUE FORT WAYNE MASTODONS VS NORTHERN KENTUCKY NORSE BETTING PICK

The Pick: Northern Kentucky Norse -2.5

This game will be played at Truist Arena at 12:00 ET on Wednesday, January 1st.

WHY BET THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY NORSE:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 80-67 in favor of the Norse.
• Not only will Northern Kentucky pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -2.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 143.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.

No Pressure for Purdue Fort Wayne as Away Dogs

Purdue Fort Wayne improved to 8-5 on the season with an 83-67 road win over Green Bay on Sunday. The Mastodons, who were -8.5 favorites, covered the spread in the victory. The total points for the game ended at 150, falling short of the O/U line of 158.5.

Purdue Fort Wayne took control early, leading 44-24 at halftime. While they allowed 43 points in the 2nd half, they still managed to score 39 points of their own to secure the win.

Purdue Fort Wayne’s offense was firing from deep in their last game, hitting 15 of 27 threes for a 55.6% shooting mark, contributing to an effective field goal percentage of 61%. Overall, they shot 47.5% from the field and 85.7% from the free-throw line, scoring 83 points with 22 assists.

Quinton Morton-Robertson and Preston Ruedinger both shot 83.3%, with Morton-Robertson going 4 for 4 from three. Jalen Jackson added 15 points and 5 assists, while Trey Lewis and Ryan Wade each contributed double-digit points off the bench.

Purdue Fort Wayne gave up 67 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 57% from the field. They struggled to defend inside, allowing 75% shooting on two-point attempts, as the other team went 22/29.

From beyond the arc, Purdue Fort Wayne held their opponent to 30% shooting, with the other team hitting 6 of 20 three-point attempts. They also sent the opposing team to the free-throw line 12 times, where they made 5, shooting 41%. Purdue Fort Wayne allowed 5 offensive rebounds.

Can Northern Kentucky Lock in a Home Win?

Northern Kentucky fell to 5-7 on the season after a 97-93 road loss to Robert Morris on Sunday. The Norse entered the game as +1 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 190, well above the 134.5 O/U line.

Trailing 36-32 at halftime, Northern Kentucky outscored Robert Morris 41-37 in the 2nd half but couldn’t close the gap.

Northern Kentucky put up 93 points in their last game, shooting 40.7% from the field and 36.4% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 45.7%, and they hit 63.3% of their free throws, going 19-for-30 from the line.

Amarion Dickerson led the way with 27 points and 15 rebounds, while Alvaro Folgueiras added 21 points and 19 boards. Kam Woods dished out 10 assists, despite shooting just 15.4% from the field and 18.2% from three-point range.

Despite Northern Kentucky’s defensive struggles, they managed to hold their opponent to 38% shooting overall. The Norse allowed 97 points, with their opponent going 35/91 from the field.

From beyond the arc, Northern Kentucky’s defense limited their opponent to 21% shooting, as they hit just 7 of 33 three-point attempts. However, the Norse sent their opponent to the free-throw line 32 times, where they converted 20 attempts.