Connecticut Huskies vs DePaul Blue Demons NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/1/25
This article was published on Jan 1, 2025. Today’s picks College Basketball picks

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Huskies and Blue Demons. The game is starting at 2:00 ET on CBSS, and it’s hosted by the Blue Demons at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. Get ready to place your bets! Connecticut is favored by -11.5 in this Big East conference matchup the against DePaul. The over/under for the game is set at 146.5 points.
CONNECTICUT HUSKIES VS DEPAUL BLUE DEMONS BETTING PICK
The Pick: DePaul Blue Demons +11.5
This game will be played at Wintrust Arena at 2:00 ET on Wednesday, January 1st.
WHY BET THE DEPAUL BLUE DEMONS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-70 in favor of the Blue Demons.
- Not only will DePaul pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +11.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 146.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 145 points.
Will Connecticut Find a Way to Win on the Road?
Connecticut improved to 10-3 on the season with a 78-74 road win over Butler on Saturday. The Huskies were -8.5 favorites going into the game but didn’t cover the spread.
UConn led 42-33 at halftime, but Butler outscored them 41-36 in the second half. The total points for the game reached 152, surpassing the over/under line of 142.5.
Connecticut’s offense put up 78 points in their last game, shooting 45% from the field and 45.8% from three-point range, hitting 11 of 24 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 53.3%, and they connected on 81.2% of their free throws, going 13 for 16.
Alex Karaban led the way with 21 points, hitting 4 of 9 from beyond the arc. Liam McNeeley and Patrick McCaffery each added 17 points, with McNeeley dishing out 7 assists. Andre Screen also contributed 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Connecticut’s defense gave up 74 points, with the opposing team shooting 42% from the field on 23 of 54 attempts. Inside the arc, they allowed 46% shooting, as the other team made 18 of 39 two-point shots.
From three-point range, the Huskies held the opposition to 33% shooting, with just 5 made threes on 15 attempts. Connecticut also sent the other team to the free-throw line 28 times, where they converted 23 for 82%. The Huskies gave up 7 offensive rebounds.
Can the Blue Demons Grab a Win at Home?
DePaul improved to 9-4 on the season with an 84-65 win over Loyola Maryland on Saturday. The Blue Demons were -18.5 point favorites at home and covered the spread. The total points for the game were 149, surpassing the O/U line of 144.5.
DePaul built a 44-26 lead in the first half and added another 40 points in the second half. They allowed 39 points in the second half, but their strong first-half performance set the tone for the win.
DePaul put up 84 points in their last game, shooting 44.9% from the field. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 5 of 24 attempts for 20.8%, but were strong inside, connecting on 57.8% of their two-point shots.
NJ Benson and Jacob Theodosiou each scored 22 points, with Theodosiou shooting 9 of 10 overall and 3 of 4 from three. Benson added 17 rebounds, while DePaul grabbed 16 offensive boards as a team and dished out 20 assists.
DePaul’s defense gave up 65 points, allowing the opposition to shoot 44% from the field, hitting 31 of 69 attempts. Inside the arc, DePaul struggled, giving up 26 two-point baskets on 45 attempts, a 57% conversion rate.
From three-point range, DePaul’s defense held strong, limiting their opponent to just 5 made threes on 24 attempts, a 20% success rate. The Blue Demons also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 23 times, where they converted 17, shooting 73%.
