Holy Cross Crusaders vs Siena Saints NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/20/24
The Crusaders and Saints are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Saints will host the game at MVP Arena in Albany, NY. This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 131.5 points, and Siena is favored by -5.5 vs. Holy Cross.
HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS VS SIENA SAINTS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Siena Saints -5.5
This game will be played at MVP Arena at 7:00 ET on Friday, December 20th.
WHY BET THE SIENA SAINTS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-68 in favor of the Saints.
- Not only will Siena pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -5.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 131.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Is a Road Win Possible for the Crusaders?
Holy Cross Crusaders Recent Game/Games
Holy Cross improved to 5-5 on the season with a 70-69 win over Quinnipiac on Tuesday, December 17th. The Crusaders were +10.5 point underdogs going into the game, but not only pulled off the upset, they also covered the spread.
After a 29-29 tie at halftime, Holy Cross scored 41 points in the 2nd half while allowing 40. The game’s total points ended at 139, just under the O/U line of 143.5.
Holy Cross knocked down 14 threes at a 48.3% clip in their last game, contributing to an effective field goal percentage of 54.1%. Overall, they shot 42.6% from the field, struggling inside with just 37.5% shooting on two-point attempts.
Kahlil Singleton led the way, hitting 6 of 7 from beyond the arc and finishing with 20 points and 3 assists. Joe Nugent added 19 points, connecting on 5 threes at 55.6% efficiency. The Crusaders dished out 18 assists, with Max Green contributing 7, despite shooting just 26.7% from the field.
Holy Cross gave up 69 points while allowing the opposing team to shoot 50% from the field. The Crusaders struggled to defend inside, where they allowed 67% shooting on 37 two-point attempts.
From beyond the arc, Holy Cross held the other team to 19% shooting, with just 4 made threes on 21 attempts. They also sent the opponent to the free-throw line 13 times, where they converted 7 shots.
Can Siena Pull Out the Win as Home Favorites?
Siena fell to 5-6 on the season after a 65-48 home loss to St. Bonaventure on Tuesday. Entering the game as +6.5 underdogs, the Saints not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game came in at 113, well below the O/U line of 127.5.
Siena struggled early, trailing 34-17 at halftime. While they matched the Bonnies with 31 points in the second half, it wasn’t enough to overcome the early deficit.
Siena’s offense struggled in their last game, putting up just 48 points with a field goal percentage of 32.1% (18/56). Their effective field goal percentage was 37.5%, and they hit only 23.1% from beyond the arc, making 6 of 26 attempts.
Chance Moore was a bright spot, scoring 23 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, shooting 60% from the field. Melvin Council Jr. added 14 points and 4 assists, hitting 2 of 4 from deep.
Despite Siena’s strong defensive showing, they couldn’t keep their opponent from scoring 65 points. The Saints held them to just 32% shooting from the field, with 18 made shots on 56 attempts.
Siena also limited their opponent’s three-point effectiveness, allowing only 6 threes on 26 attempts (23%). They sent them to the line 8 times, where they converted 6 free throws (75%).