Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Liberty Flames NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/2/25

Planning on watching today’s Hilltoppers and Flames game? Catch the action at Liberty Arena in Lynchburg, VA, as the Flames hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on CBSS. The odds for this Conference USA conference game currently have Liberty as the -8.5 point favorite with the over/under line sitting at 144.5 points.

WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS VS LIBERTY FLAMES BETTING PICK

The Pick: Liberty Flames -8.5

This game will be played at Liberty Arena at 7:00 ET on Thursday, January 2nd.

WHY BET THE LIBERTY FLAMES:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-68 in favor of the Flames.
• Not only will Liberty pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -8.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 144.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.

Will the Hilltoppers Win on the Road?

Western Kentucky fell to 7-4 on the season after a 112-64 road loss to Michigan on Sunday. Entering the game as +21.5 point underdogs, the Hilltoppers not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.

Trailing 59-31 at halftime, Western Kentucky couldn’t turn things around in the second half, scoring 33 points while allowing 53. The game’s total points of 176 exceeded the pre-game over/under line of 159.5.

Western Kentucky struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 36.4% from the field and 20% from beyond the arc, connecting on only 5 of 25 three-point attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 39.4%, and they managed just 5 offensive rebounds and 5 assists as a team.

At the free-throw line, the Hilltoppers hit 11 of 19 attempts, shooting 57.9%. Don McHenry led the team with 18 points, while Nimari Burnett and Vladislav Goldin each added 17, with Goldin hitting 7 of 8 shots from the field and 2 of 2 from three-point range.

Western Kentucky’s defense struggled, giving up 112 points on 51% shooting. They allowed 33 field goals on 64 attempts.

From three-point range, they allowed 19 threes on 40 attempts, a 47% success rate. They also sent the opposing team to the line 35 times, where they hit 27 free throws.

Are Liberty Ready for a Home Win?

Liberty Flames Recent Game/Games

Liberty improved to 9-1 on the season with a 79-56 home win over UT Arlington on Saturday. The Flames, who entered the game as -9.5 favorites, covered the spread. The total points for the game were 135, falling short of the 142.5 O/U line.

Liberty took control early, leading 39-22 at halftime. They added 40 points in the 2nd half while allowing 34, maintaining their strong start and securing the win.

Liberty’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 79 points with a field goal percentage of 52.9%. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 66.7%, thanks in part to hitting 15 threes at a 46.9% clip. Inside the arc, they shot 63.2% on two-point attempts.

Kaden Metheny led the way with 25 points, knocking down 7 of 13 threes. Taelon Peter added 18 points in just 20 minutes, shooting 4 of 8 from deep. Liberty finished with 24 assists, with Metheny contributing 5 dimes.

Liberty’s defense had a tough outing, giving up 56 points while allowing the opposition to shoot 52% from the field. The Flames struggled to contain the three-point line, where they allowed 15 threes on 32 attempts, a 46% shooting clip.

From the free-throw line, Liberty’s opponent went 10/14, shooting 71%. The Flames did a good job on the boards, giving up just 4 offensive rebounds.