Charlotte 49ers vs Rice Owls NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/4/25
Looking to win big? The 49ers and Owls face off at 2:00 ET on ESPN+. The Owls are hosting the game at Tudor Fieldhouse in Houston, TX. The over/under for this American Athletic conference contest is set at 140.5 points, with Rice being favored by -3.5 at home against Charlotte.
CHARLOTTE 49ERS VS RICE OWLS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Rice Owls -3.5
This game will be played at Tudor Fieldhouse at 2:00 ET on Saturday, January 4th.
WHY BET THE RICE OWLS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-69 in favor of the Owls.
- Not only will Rice pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -3.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 140.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Does Charlotte Have What it Takes to Win as Road Underdogs?
Charlotte 49ers Recent Game/Games
Charlotte fell to 6-7 on the season after an 83-68 home loss to Tulane on Tuesday. The 49ers were -3 favorites going into the game but failed to cover the spread. The combined points of 151 exceeded the O/U line of 145.5.
Trailing 34-27 at halftime, Charlotte allowed 49 points in the 2nd half while scoring 41 of their own. Defensive struggles continue to be a concern for the 49ers as they look to get back on track.
Charlotte’s offense put up 68 points in their last game, shooting 40% from the field and 26.1% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 45.5%, and they connected on 81.8% of their free throws, going 18-for-22 from the line.
Kaleb Banks led the way with 21 points, hitting 3 of 7 from deep and shooting 63.6% overall. Rowan Brumbaugh added 19 points and 3 assists, while Asher Woods contributed 16 points and 3 assists, shooting 54.5% from the field.
Charlotte’s defense gave up 83 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 40% from the field. They allowed 16 two-point baskets on 32 attempts, a 50% conversion rate.
From beyond the arc, the opponent hit 6 of 23 threes, shooting 26%. Charlotte also sent them to the line 22 times, where they made 18 free throws, an 81% success rate. The 49ers gave up 7 offensive rebounds.
Can Rice Lock in a Home Win?
Rice Owls Recent Game/Games
The Owls improved to 10-3 on the season with a 70-64 road win over Tulsa on Wednesday. Rice entered the game as +2.5 point underdogs and covered the spread with the victory.
Rice trailed 36-32 at halftime but turned things around in the second half, outscoring Tulsa 38-28. The game’s total points of 134 fell short of the 140.5 O/U line.
Rice put up 70 points in their last game, shooting 47.5% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 52.5%. They hit 56.4% of their two-point attempts, but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 30% of their threes (6/20). At the free-throw line, the Owls shot 50%, making 10 of 20 attempts.
Offensively, Rice grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and dished out 10 assists. Dwon Odom led the way with 18 points and 3 assists, while Tyshawn Archie added 16 points despite shooting 2/9 from three. Denver Anglin contributed 12 points, hitting 2 of 3 from deep, and both Keaston Willis and Trae Broadnax chipped in 11 points, with Broadnax also grabbing 8 rebounds.
Despite Rice’s defensive efforts, they couldn’t hold their opponent under 64 points. The Owls allowed 35% shooting from the field, with 21 made baskets on 59 attempts.
Rice’s defense limited their opponent’s three-point shooting to 25%, with just 7 threes made on 28 attempts. However, they sent them to the line 17 times, where they converted 15 free throws at an 88% rate.