Abilene Christian Wildcats vs Utah Valley Wolverines NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/4/25

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Wildcats and Wolverines. The game is starting at 4:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Wolverines at UCCU Center in Orem, UT. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this game is set at 138.5 points, and Utah Valley is favored by -8.5 vs. Abilene Christian in a Western Athletic conference matchup.

ABILENE CHRISTIAN WILDCATS VS UTAH VALLEY WOLVERINES BETTING PICK

The Pick: Abilene Christian Wildcats +8.5

This game will be played at UCCU Center at 4:00 ET on Saturday, January 4th.

WHY BET THE ABILENE CHRISTIAN WILDCATS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-71 in favor of the Wolverines.
• Even though we have Utah Valley winning straight-up, we like Abilene Christian at +8.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 138.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 148 points.

Do the Wildcats Have What it Takes to Win as Road Underdogs?

Abilene Christian fell to 5-7 on the season after a 62-57 loss to Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday. The Wildcats, who were -3.5 favorites at home, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread.

After trailing 29-25 at halftime, Abilene Christian scored 32 points in the 2nd half but allowed 33. The game’s total points of 119 fell short of the 134.5 O/U line.

Abilene Christian’s offense struggled in their latest outing, scoring just 57 points with a field goal percentage of 37.3%. Their three-point shooting was particularly problematic, as they missed all 11 attempts from beyond the arc.

Free-throw shooting was also an issue, with the Wildcats hitting just 55.9% from the line. Leonardo Bettiol was a bright spot, scoring 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting, while Chrishawn Christmas added 24 points and 14 rebounds.

Abilene Christian’s defense was strong, holding their opponent to just 62 points on 37% shooting from the field. They allowed 19 field goals, all from two-point range, as their opponent went 0/11 from beyond the arc.

The Wildcats sent their opponent to the free-throw line 34 times, where they made 19, shooting 55%. Abilene Christian also limited second-chance opportunities, giving up 8 offensive rebounds.

Does Utah Valley Stand a Chance at Home?

Utah Valley evened their record at 6-6 with a 64-62 win over Weber State on Saturday. The Wolverines, who were +2 underdogs, not only pulled off the road win but also covered the spread.

Utah Valley led 38-35 at halftime and edged out the Wildcats by allowing just 27 points in the 2nd half while scoring 26. The game’s total points of 126 fell under the O/U line of 140.5.

In their latest game, Utah Valley’s offense put up 64 points, shooting 46.9% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 53.1%. They connected on 35.3% of their threes, hitting 6 of 17 attempts, and struggled at the free-throw line, making just 54.5% of their 22 attempts.

Carter Welling led the way, scoring 22 points on 8 of 11 shooting, including 4 of 6 from beyond the arc. Nigel Burris added 17 points and 10 rebounds, hitting 3 of 5 from three-point range, while Blaise Threatt contributed 16 points and 3 assists.

Utah Valley Wolverines’ defense gave up 62 points while allowing the opposing team to shoot 45% from the field, hitting 24 of their 53 attempts. Inside the arc, the Wolverines struggled, as their opponents connected on 57% of their two-point shots, going 19/33.

From three-point range, Utah Valley held their opponents to just 5/20 shooting, a 25% success rate. The Wolverines also sent the other team to the free-throw line 15 times, where they made 9, shooting 60%. Utah Valley allowed 11 offensive rebounds in the game.