Colgate Raiders vs Bucknell Bison NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/5/25

Looking to win big? The Raiders and Bison face off at 2:00 ET on ESPN+. The Bison are hosting the game at Sojka Pavilion in Lewisburg, PA. In this Patriot League matchup, Colgate is favored bt -1.5 vs. Bucknell. The over/under for the game is 136.5 points.

COLGATE RAIDERS VS BUCKNELL BISON BETTING PICK

The Pick: Bucknell Bison +1.5

This game will be played at Sojka Pavilion at 2:00 ET on Sunday, January 5th.

WHY BET THE BUCKNELL BISON:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-69 in favor of the Bison.
• Not only will Bucknell pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +1.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 136.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.

Will Colgate Come Through as Road Favorites?

Colgate Raiders Recent Game/Games

Colgate improved to 3-10 on the season with a 71-59 home win over Army on Thursday, January 2nd. The Raiders, who were -6 point favorites, covered the spread in the win.

Colgate led 38-32 at halftime and held Army to 27 points in the 2nd half while scoring 33 of their own. The total points for the game were 130, falling short of the 144.5 O/U line.

Colgate put up 71 points in their last game, shooting 48.3% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 53.4%. They connected on 35.3% of their threes, hitting 6 of 17 attempts, and shot 53.7% from inside the arc. At the free-throw line, they went 9 for 12, good for 75%.

Jeff Woodward led the way with 17 points on 7 of 9 shooting, while Josh Scovens added 16 points, hitting 7 of 14 shots. Jalen Cox contributed 15 points and 5 assists, and Ryan Curry chipped in 14 points, despite struggling from three, making just 2 of 9 attempts. AJ Allenspach was efficient, shooting 5 of 8 from the field and hitting his only three-point attempt.

Despite Colgate’s defense allowing 59 points on 48% shooting, they managed to keep the game in check. The Raiders gave up 22 two-point baskets on 41 attempts, with the opposing team hitting 53% of their shots inside the arc.

From three-point range, Colgate’s defense allowed 6 made threes on 17 attempts, a 35% shooting performance. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 12 times, where they converted 9 of their attempts, shooting 75%.

Can the Bison Secure a Win at Home?

Bucknell Bison Recent Game/Games

Bucknell fell to 4-10 on the season after a narrow 66-64 loss to Lehigh on Thursday. The Bison were +3 point underdogs going into the game and managed to cover the spread, but couldn’t pull off the upset. The combined points of 130 fell short of the O/U line of 140.5.

Bucknell looked strong early, leading 33-20 at halftime. However, they struggled in the second half, scoring just 24 points while allowing Lehigh to put up 37 points.

Bucknell’s offense struggled in their last game, shooting just 40% from the field and 27.8% from beyond the arc, finishing with an effective field goal percentage of 43.3%. They also hit only 55% of their free throws, going 11-for-20 from the line.

Nasir Whitlock led the way with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-4 from three-point range. Noah Williamson added 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Cam Gillus contributed 16 points and 5 assists.

Even with 12 offensive rebounds allowed, Bucknell’s defense held strong, giving up just 66 points on 33% shooting from the field. They limited their opponent to 34% on two-point attempts, with 13 makes on 38 shots.

From beyond the arc, Bucknell conceded 9 threes on 27 attempts, a 33% clip. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 21 times, where they hit 13 for 61%.