Cleveland State Vikings vs Milwaukee Panthers Betting Pick & Prediction 1/12/24

The Vikings and Panthers are set to face off at 3:00 ET on ESPN+. The Panthers will host the game at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, WI. The over/under goal line for this matchup is currently at 158.5 points, and the Panthers are favored to win at home against the Vikings.

CLEVELAND STATE VIKINGS VS MILWAUKEE PANTHERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Milwaukee Panthers -2.5

This game will be played at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena at 3:00 ET on Friday, January 12th.

WHY BET THE MILWAUKEE PANTHERS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-68 in favor of the Panthers.
• Not only will Milwaukee pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -2.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 158.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 144 points.

Are the Vikings Ready for a Road Win?

After defeating Northern Kentucky 88-85, Cleveland State enters this game with an 11-6 record. The Vikings have gone 4-2 in Horizon League games and 7-4 in non-conference action. On the road, they are 2-6 compared to 8-0 at home.

For the season, Cleveland State has been the underdog in seven of its 17 games, going 2-5 in those contests. The Vikings’ average scoring margin on the road is -6.1, and they have gone 3-7 over their last ten road games.

As the underdog this season, Cleveland State has gone 5-2 vs. the spread and is 7-3 in their last 10 games as the underdog. On the road, the Vikings have an ATS record of 4-4 this year and are 5-5 in their last 10 road games vs. the spread.

Today’s over/under line of 158.5 is higher than the average over/under line in Cleveland State’s games this season (144.8). So far, 10 of their games have finished with more points than today’s OU line. In their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1 and the average scoring total in those contests is 162 points.

Cleveland State is fresh off a strong offensive showing, putting up 88 points versus Northern Kentucky. This output is higher than their season-average of 77 points per game. In terms of offense, the Vikings have a season-long field goal percentage of 43%, putting them 256th in the NCAA. Regarding three-pointers, they are ranked 83rd in percentage and 201st in three-pointers made.

Coming into today’s game, the Cleveland State defense is giving up an average of 71.7 points per contest. In today’s game vs. Milwaukee, the Cleveland State defense will be looking to do a better job avoiding putting opponents on the line. In their last game, Cleveland State made 23 free-throws vs. the Vikings.

Can the Panthers Live Up to the Hype at Home?

After a win in their last game, Milwaukee improved their record to 8-8 on the season. They are 3-2 in Horizon League play and 5-6 in non-conference games.

At home this season, the Panthers have gone 4-2, and they have won three straight games at home. Milwaukee has been the favorite in six games this season, going 3-3 in those matchups.

As the favorite this season, Milwaukee has gone just 1-5 vs. the spread. Their ATS record for the year is 6-8. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, the Panthers are just 2-8.

So far this season, the over/under record for Milwaukee games is 8-5-1, and the average scoring total in their games is 156.8 points. Today’s over/under line of 158.5 is higher than the average OU line in their games (150.7). This year, 13 of their games have had lower over/under lines than 158.5, and eight of their games have finished with fewer than 158.5 points. In their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1, and the average scoring total in those games is 171 points.

Milwaukee’s offense is coming off a strong performance vs. Detroit, finishing the game with a total of 84 points. Their season average is now 77.9 points per game. The top scorer for the Panthers was Erik Pratt with 20 points, while Kentrell Pullian also chipped in with 15 points.

As they prepare for the upcoming game, Milwaukee is focused on shoring up their defense, as they are currently allowing an average of 78.4 points per game (297th). So far, the Milwaukee defense is giving up an average of 9.0 offensive rebounds per game and are turning teams over 11.4 times per game (500th).