Cleveland State Vikings vs Northern Kentucky Norse NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 2/5/25
Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Vikings versus the Norse? Tip off is at at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Truist Arena in Highland Heights, KY. Cleveland State come into this Horizon League conference matchup as the -1.5 favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 132 points.
CLEVELAND STATE VIKINGS VS NORTHERN KENTUCKY NORSE BETTING PICK
The Pick: Northern Kentucky Norse +1.5
This game will be played at Truist Arena at 7:00 ET on Wednesday, February 5th.
WHY BET THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY NORSE:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-69 in favor of the Norse.
- Not only will Northern Kentucky pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +1.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 132 points, and we like the over with a projected 145 points.
Pressure Builds for Cleveland State as Away Favorites
Cleveland State Vikings Recent Game/Games
The Vikings improved to 14-6 on the season with a 68-58 win over Purdue Fort Wayne on Thursday. Cleveland State, who entered the game as +5 point underdogs, not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.
After leading 35-25 at halftime, the Vikings matched the Mastodons with 33 points in the second half. The game’s total points of 126 fell well short of the 147.5 O/U line.
Cleveland State put up 68 points in their last game, shooting 46.9% from the field and 42.1% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 55.1%, and they hit 73.7% of their free throws, going 14-for-19 from the line.
Chase Robinson led the way with 20 points, shooting 60% overall and from deep. Tevin Smith was perfect from the field, hitting all 4 of his shots, including 2 threes. Dylan Arnett contributed 15 points and 15 rebounds, shooting 70% from the floor.
Cleveland State’s defense was strong, giving up just 58 points while holding the opposing team to 35% shooting from the field. They were particularly effective at defending the three-point line, where their opponents shot just 5/32, or 15%.
From the free-throw line, Cleveland State’s opponents struggled, hitting only 7 of 15 attempts for 46%. Cleveland State also allowed 13 offensive rebounds in the game.
Does Northern Kentucky Have a Shot at a Home Win?
Northern Kentucky Norse Recent Game/Games
Northern Kentucky improved to 8-13 on the season with an 84-75 road win over Oakland on Saturday. The Norse entered the game as +6 point underdogs and not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.
After trailing 40-39 at halftime, Northern Kentucky turned things around in the 2nd half, outscoring Oakland 45-35. The game’s total points of 159 went well over the pre-game O/U line of 129.5.
Northern Kentucky put up 84 points in their latest game, shooting 45.9% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 55.7%, with a strong performance from the free-throw line, hitting 80% of their attempts.
Dan Gherezgher Jr. led the way with 22 points and 6 assists, shooting 57.1% from three. The Norse also got 18 points from Buru Naivalurua, while DQ Cole added 15 points, connecting on 5 of 9 threes.
Despite Northern Kentucky’s defensive efforts, they gave up 75 points in their last game, with their opponents shooting 45% from the field. The Norse allowed 23 made field goals on 51 attempts, including 12 two-pointers at a 46% clip.
From beyond the arc, Northern Kentucky’s defense couldn’t contain the shooters, who hit 11 threes on 25 attempts, shooting 44%. They also sent their opponents to the line 20 times, where they converted 18 free throws at a 90% rate. The Norse gave up 7 offensive rebounds.