Holy Cross Crusaders vs Maine Black Bears NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/24/24
Looking to win big? The Crusaders and Black Bears face off at 12:00 ET on ESPN+. The Black Bears are hosting the game at Memorial Gymnasium (ME) in Orono, ME. The odds for this non-conference game currently have Maine as the -6 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 136.5 points.
HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS VS MAINE BLACK BEARS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Maine Black Bears -6
This game will be played at Memorial Gymnasium (ME) at 12:00 ET on Sunday, November 24th.
WHY BET THE MAINE BLACK BEARS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 81-66 in favor of the Black Bears.
- Not only will Maine pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -6.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 136.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Does Holy Cross Have a Shot at a Road Win?
Holy Cross Crusaders Recent Game/Games
Holy Cross picked up a 74-72 win over New Hampshire on Sunday, November 17th. Playing at home, the Crusaders were -4.5 favorites but didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 146 went over the 140.5 O/U line.
After trailing 41-34 at halftime, Holy Cross turned things around by scoring 40 points in the 2nd half while holding New Hampshire to 31 points.
Holy Cross put up 74 points in their last game, shooting 48.1% from the field and posting an effective field goal percentage of 59.3%. They were particularly strong from beyond the arc, hitting 50% of their threes (12/24), while their free-throw shooting lagged at 50% (10/20).
Anthony McComb III led the team with 17 points, while Rex Sunderland contributed 13 points, hitting 3 of 4 from deep. Davide Poser and Aidan Richard each added 12 points, both shooting 4 of 5 from three-point range.
Holy Cross gave up 72 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 48% from the field. They allowed 26 made field goals on 54 attempts.
From beyond the arc, Holy Cross’s defense allowed 12 threes on 24 attempts, a 50% shooting rate. They also sent opponents to the line 20 times, where they made 10 free throws.
Is A Home Victory Likely for the Favored Black Bears?
Maine Black Bears Recent Game
Maine fell 70-66 to Richmond on Wednesday, November 20th. Despite being +8.5 point underdogs on the road, the Black Bears kept it close and covered the spread.
After leading 27-25 at halftime, Maine allowed 45 points in the 2nd half while scoring 39. The game’s total points of 136 went over the pre-game O/U line of 129.5.
Maine’s offense struggled from the field in their last game, shooting just 36.2% overall and 20% from three-point range, hitting only 6 of 30 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 41.4%, but they found success at the free-throw line, converting 18 of 23 attempts for 78.3%.
Jason Roche and AJ Lopez both hit 5 of 8 from deep, finishing with 19 points each. Kellen Tynes added 18 points and 7 rebounds, while Jonathan Beagle contributed 12 points and a team-high 8 boards.
Despite giving up 70 points, Maine’s defense held their opponent to 44% shooting from the field, with 21 made baskets on 47 attempts. Inside the arc, the Black Bears allowed 13 two-point field goals on 27 shots, a 48% conversion rate.
From beyond the arc, Maine’s defense conceded 8 threes on 20 attempts, with their opponent shooting 40% from three-point range. The Black Bears also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 25 times, where they converted 20 of those attempts, shooting 80%. Maine gave up 6 offensive rebounds in the game.