Elon Phoenix vs East Tennessee State Buccaneers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/18/24
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Phoenix and Buccaneers. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Buccaneers at Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, TN. Get ready to place your bets! The odds for this non-conference game currently have East Tennessee State as the -4.5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 142.5 points.
ELON PHOENIX VS EAST TENNESSEE STATE BUCCANEERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Elon Phoenix +4.5
This game will be played at Freedom Hall Civic Center at 7:00 ET on Wednesday, December 18th.
WHY BET THE ELON PHOENIX:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-72 in favor of the Buccaneers.
- Even though we have East Tennessee State winning straight-up, we like Elon at +4.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 142.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Can Elon Secure a Road Victory?
Elon Phoenix Recent Game/Games
Elon improved to 5-3 on the season with a 79-56 win over Wofford on Saturday. Playing at home, the Phoenix entered the game as -2.5 favorites and covered the spread with the victory.
Elon led 37-29 at halftime and clamped down defensively in the second half, allowing just 27 points while scoring 42 of their own. The total points for the game were 135, just under the 139.5 O/U line.
Elon’s offense was clicking in their last game, putting up 79 points with a field goal percentage of 59.2% and an effective field goal percentage of 69.4%. They connected on 69.2% of their two-point attempts and shot 47.8% from beyond the arc, hitting 11 threes.
Sam Sherry led the way with 22 points, shooting 61.5% overall and 50% from three. Nick Dorn added 15 points, hitting 4 of 6 from deep, while Corey Tripp contributed 12 points and 5 assists, despite shooting just 31.2% from the field.
Elon’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 56 points while allowing the opposing team to shoot 59% from the field. Inside the arc, the Phoenix allowed 17 of 25 shots to fall, a 68% shooting rate.
From three-point range, Elon’s opponents connected on 11 of 22 attempts, hitting 50%. The Phoenix also sent them to the free-throw line 16 times, where they made 12 shots, good for 75%. Elon gave up 6 offensive rebounds.
Is A Home Victory Likely for Favored East Tennessee State?
East Tennessee State dropped to 4-5 on the season after a 60-52 loss to Jacksonville on Saturday. The Buccaneers, who were -3 favorites going into the game, failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game ended at 112, well below the O/U line of 148.
ETSU found themselves in a 36-24 hole at halftime but managed to outscore Jacksonville 28-24 in the second half. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome the early deficit.
East Tennessee State struggled offensively in their last game, scoring just 52 points on 33.9% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 40.7%, and they hit 8 of 24 from beyond the arc, shooting 33.3% from three-point range.
The Buccaneers also had a tough time at the free-throw line, making only 4 of 14 attempts for a 28.6% success rate. Robert McCray V led the team with 22 points, shooting 53.3% overall, while Zimi Nwokeji was 4 of 5 from three-point range, finishing with 15 points.
East Tennessee State’s defense held their opponent to 60 points, despite allowing them to shoot 43% from the field. The Buccaneers gave up 17 two-point baskets on 33 attempts, a 51% shooting rate.
From beyond the arc, East Tennessee State limited their opponent to 6 made threes on 20 attempts, a 30% success rate. At the free-throw line, the opponent shot 72%, making 8 of 11 attempts. The Buccaneers also allowed 10 offensive rebounds.