Cleveland State Vikings vs Milwaukee Panthers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/5/24
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Vikings and Panthers. The game is starting at 8:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Panthers at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, WI. Get ready to place your bets! This Horizon League conference matchup has an over/under of 140.5 points, and Milwaukee is favored to win by -8 at home vs. Cleveland State.
CLEVELAND STATE VIKINGS VS MILWAUKEE PANTHERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Cleveland State Vikings +8
This game will be played at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena at 8:00 ET on Thursday, December 5th.
WHY BET THE CLEVELAND STATE VIKINGS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-70 in favor of the Panthers.
- Even though we have Milwaukee winning straight-up, we like Cleveland State at +8.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 140.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.
Will the Cleveland State Defense Show Up on the Road?
Cleveland State fell to 3-5 on the season after a 71-69 home loss to Morehead State on Friday. The Vikings, who were -6 favorites, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 140, exceeding the pre-game O/U line of 128.
After trailing 47-32 at halftime, Cleveland State’s defense stepped up, allowing just 24 points in the 2nd half while scoring 37. Despite the strong finish, the comeback fell just short.
Cleveland State’s offense struggled from the field in their last game, shooting just 39.6% overall and 23.5% from three-point range. They managed only 5 assists as a team, with Tahj Staveskie contributing just 1 assist and shooting 3-for-15 from the field, including 1-for-6 from beyond the arc.
The Vikings did find success at the free-throw line, hitting 76.7% of their attempts and making 23 free throws. Anouar Mellouk and Chase Robinson were efficient from the field, both shooting 66.7%, while Jalen Breazeale also shot 66.7% and added 3 assists.
Even though Cleveland State gave up 71 points, they managed to hold their opponent to just 39% shooting from the field. The Vikings allowed 17 two-point baskets on 36 attempts, a 47% shooting rate.
From beyond the arc, Cleveland State’s defense was strong, limiting their opponent to 4 made threes on 17 attempts, or 23% shooting. However, they sent the other team to the free-throw line 30 times, where they converted 23 of those attempts for 76%.
Do the Panthers Stand a Chance at Home?
Milwaukee Panthers Recent Game/Games
Milwaukee’s season record moved to 4-4 after a narrow 66-65 loss to Southern Miss on Saturday. The Panthers, who were -2.5 favorites, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 131 fell well short of the 157.5 O/U line.
Milwaukee led 32-31 at halftime but were outscored 35-33 in the second half. The Panthers will look to bounce back after this tough road loss.
Milwaukee’s offense put up 65 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 3 of 16 attempts for 18.8%, but were strong inside, connecting on 63.2% of their two-point shots.
Denijay Harris led the way with 24 points and 8 rebounds, hitting 8 of 12 shots, including 2 of 2 from deep. Themus Fulks added 17 points on 8 of 11 shooting, and Kentrell Pullian and Jett Montgomery each contributed 13 points, with Montgomery hitting 3 of 6 from three-point range.
Milwaukee’s defense held their opponent to 66 points on 39% shooting from the field, including 37% from two-point range. Despite the solid defensive effort, they allowed 10 made threes on 23 attempts, a 43% clip.
From the free-throw line, Milwaukee sent their opponent to the line 12 times, where they converted 10 free throws for 83%. The Panthers also gave up 13 offensive rebounds in the game.