Iona Gaels vs Colgate Raiders NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/22/24
Looking to win big? The Gaels and Raiders face off at 1:00 ET on ESPN+. The Raiders are hosting the game at Cotterell Court in Hamilton, NY. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 138.5 points, with Colgate being favored by -4.5 over Iona.
IONA GAELS VS COLGATE RAIDERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Colgate Raiders -4.5
This game will be played at Cotterell Court at 1:00 ET on Sunday, December 22nd.
WHY BET THE COLGATE RAIDERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-71 in favor of the Raiders.
- Not only will Colgate pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -4.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 138.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 148 points.
Is a Road Win Possible for Iona?
Iona improved to 3-8 on the season with a 72-63 win over Saint Peter’s on Sunday. The Gaels, +1 underdogs at home, not only picked up the win but also covered the spread. The total points for the game reached 135, surpassing the O/U line of 131.
After leading 32-23 at halftime, Iona scored 40 points in the 2nd half but also allowed 40 points. Despite the defensive lapses, the Gaels’ offense was enough to secure the win.
Marcus Randolph led the way for Iona with 29 points and 4 made threes, shooting 44.4% from deep in their last game. Dejour Reaves added 19 points, hitting 66.7% of his threes, while James Patterson contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Iona shot 42% from the field, with a 33.3% mark from three-point range, and hit 24 free throws at a 68.6% rate. They grabbed 20 offensive rebounds, with Randolph and Reaves each dishing out 2 assists.
Even with Iona’s defense giving up 24 points from the free-throw line, they still held their opponent to 63 points. The Gaels allowed a 42% shooting performance, with their opponents hitting 21 of 50 shots.
From beyond the arc, Iona’s defense limited their opponents to 6 threes on 18 attempts, a 33% success rate. Inside the arc, the opposition shot 46%, converting 15 of 32 two-point attempts.
Is A Home Victory Likely for the Favored Raiders?
Colgate Raiders Recent Game/Games
Colgate improved to 2-9 on the season with a 65-60 win over Vermont on Sunday. The Raiders were +1.5 point underdogs but managed to cover the spread with the victory.
Colgate held a 28-26 lead at halftime and outscored Vermont 37-34 in the second half. The game’s total points of 125 fell short of the 128.5 O/U line.
Colgate managed just 65 points in their latest game, shooting 41.5% from the field and 30.4% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage stood at 49.1%, and they connected on 77.8% of their free throws, hitting 14 of 18 attempts.
Nick Fiorillo was a standout, hitting 5 of 7 threes and finishing with 23 points and 6 rebounds. He shot 72.7% overall. TJ Hurley added 19 points, while Nicolas Louis-Jacques contributed 17 points, making 3 of 7 from deep.
Colgate’s defense held their opponents to 60 points, allowing them to shoot 41% from the field with 22 made baskets on 53 attempts. Inside the arc, the opposition went 15/30, hitting 50% of their two-point shots.
From three-point range, the other team managed to connect on 7 of 23 attempts, shooting 30%. Colgate also sent them to the free-throw line 18 times, where they made 14, shooting 77%. The Raiders gave up 5 offensive rebounds.