Evansville Aces vs UT Arlington Mavericks NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/18/24
Betting on today’s Aces and Mavericks game? Catch the action at College Park Center in Arlington, TX, as the Mavericks hosts this showdown at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 153.5 points, and UT Arlington is favored by -7.5 at home against Evansville.
EVANSVILLE ACES VS UT ARLINGTON MAVERICKS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Evansville Aces +7.5
This game will be played at College Park Center at 8:00 ET on Wednesday, December 18th.
WHY BET THE EVANSVILLE ACES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-72 in favor of the Mavericks.
- Even though we have UT Arlington winning straight-up, we like Evansville at +7.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 153.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.
Is A Road Victory Likely for Underdog Evansville?
Evansville Aces Recent Game/Games
Evansville’s season continued to be a struggle as they fell to 2-7 after a 75-67 home loss to Chattanooga on Thursday. The Aces entered the game as +2.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game ended at 142, falling short of the 148.5 O/U line.
Evansville found themselves down 41-29 at halftime but showed some fight in the second half, outscoring Chattanooga 38-34. However, their efforts weren’t enough to complete the comeback.
Evansville’s offense put up 67 points in their last game, shooting 44.4% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 53.7%. They connected on 35.7% of their threes, hitting 10 of 28 attempts, and went 14 for 26 (53.8%) on two-point shots. At the free-throw line, the Aces shot 69.2%, making 9 of 13 attempts.
Trey Bonham and Tanner Cuff both hit 4 of 6 from deep, with Bonham scoring a team-high 22 points and Cuff adding 18. Tayshawn Comer contributed 15 points and 8 assists, while Honor Huff and Gabriel Pozzato each chipped in 12 points, with Pozzato hitting 3 threes.
Evansville’s defense gave up 75 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 44% from the field (24/54). The Aces allowed 53% shooting on two-point attempts, with the other team hitting 14 of 26 shots inside the arc.
From three-point range, Evansville’s defense saw their opponents make 10 of 28 attempts, good for 35%. The Aces also sent the other team to the free-throw line 13 times, where they converted 9 shots for 69%. Evansville gave up 8 offensive rebounds.
Do the Mavericks Have a Shot at a Home Win?
UT Arlington Mavericks Recent Game/Games
UT Arlington improved to 3-6 on the season with a 77-68 home win over Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, December 14th. The Mavericks were -13 point favorites but didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 145 fell short of the 149.5 O/U line.
UT Arlington took control early, leading 45-30 at halftime, but allowed 38 points in the 2nd half while scoring 32. Despite the win, the Mavericks’ inability to cover the spread and their 2nd half defensive struggles are areas to watch moving forward.
UT Arlington put up 77 points in their last game, shooting 46.7% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 55%. They hit 62.1% of their two-point attempts, but struggled from beyond the arc, shooting 32.3% on 31 attempts. At the free-throw line, they connected on just 57.9% of their shots.
The Mavericks dished out 20 assists, with Jalen Bolden leading the way with 7. Bolden also grabbed 15 rebounds, while Makai Willis contributed 18 points and 13 boards. Lance Ware was efficient, shooting 72.7% from the field, finishing with 17 points.
UT Arlington’s defense gave up 68 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 46% from the field on 28 of 60 attempts. They were particularly effective inside, converting 62% of their two-point shots, going 18 for 29.
From beyond the arc, the Mavericks allowed 10 threes on 31 attempts, a 32% shooting performance. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 19 times, where they made 11, shooting 57%. UT Arlington gave up 7 offensive rebounds.