Holy Cross Crusaders vs Lafayette Leopards NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/11/25
Looking to win big? The Crusaders and Leopards face off at 1:00 ET on ESPN+. The Leopards are hosting the game at Kirby Sports Center in Easton, PA. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 132.5 points, and Lafayette is favored by -4.5 to win at home against Holy Cross.
HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS VS LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Lafayette Leopards -4.5
This game will be played at Kirby Sports Center at 1:00 ET on Saturday, January 11th.
WHY BET THE LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-70 in favor of the Leopards.
- Not only will Lafayette pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -4.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 132.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 148 points.
Does Holy Cross Have a Shot at a Road Win?
Holy Cross Crusaders Recent Game/Games
Holy Cross improved to 8-6 on the season with a 70-59 win over Navy on Wednesday, January 8th. Playing at home, the Crusaders entered the game as 2-point favorites and covered the spread with the victory.
Holy Cross led 38-30 at halftime and continued to control the game in the 2nd half, outscoring Navy 32-29. The total points for the game were 129, falling short of the 140.5 over/under line.
Holy Cross put up 70 points in their last game, shooting 53.7% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 63%. They hit 50% from beyond the arc, going 10-for-20, and connected on 55.9% of their two-point attempts.
Joe Nugent led the way with 21 points, hitting 5-of-8 from three-point range. Aidan Kehoe and Caleb Kenney each added 18 points, with Kehoe shooting 81.8% and grabbing 14 rebounds. The Crusaders finished with just 3 offensive rebounds and 17 assists.
Even with Holy Cross giving up 53% shooting, they managed to hold their opponent to just 59 points. The Crusaders allowed 29 made field goals on 54 attempts.
From beyond the arc, Holy Cross gave up 10 threes on 20 attempts, a 50% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the line only 3 times, where they made 2 free throws.
Can the Leopards Secure a Win at Home?
Lafayette Leopards Recent Game/Games
Lafayette’s season record dropped to 5-10 following their 65-62 loss to Bucknell on Wednesday. The Leopards, who entered the game as +3.5 point underdogs, managed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 127, falling short of the 131.5 over/under line.
After trailing 33-27 at halftime, Lafayette tightened up defensively in the second half, allowing just 25 points while scoring 31 of their own. Despite the improved effort, they couldn’t complete the comeback.
Lafayette’s offense struggled from beyond the arc in their last game, hitting just 3 of 17 threes for a 17.6% shooting percentage. Their overall field goal percentage was 42.6%, with an effective field goal percentage of 45.9%. From inside the arc, they shot 52.3%, connecting on 23 of 44 attempts.
At the free-throw line, the Leopards shot 53.8%, making 7 of 13 attempts. They grabbed 9 offensive rebounds and finished with 11 assists. Josh Bascoe led the team with 23 points, shooting 53.3% from the field and 50.0% from three-point range, hitting 5 of 10 attempts.
Lafayette’s defense held their opponent to 65 points, with a field goal percentage of 40% (25/62). They allowed 16 two-point shots on 34 attempts, giving up a 47% shooting rate inside the arc.
From three-point range, the Leopards’ defense conceded 9 threes on 28 attempts, a 32% shooting rate. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 11 times, where they made 6, shooting 54%. Lafayette gave up 9 offensive rebounds.