Jacksonville Dolphins vs UCF Knights NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/21/24
Looking to win big? The Dolphins and Knights face off at 6:00 ET on ESPN+. The Knights are hosting the game at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, FL. The odds for this non-conference game currently have UCF as the -15.5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 142.5 points.
JACKSONVILLE DOLPHINS VS UCF KNIGHTS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Jacksonville Dolphins +15.5
This game will be played at Addition Financial Arena at 6:00 ET on Saturday, December 21st.
WHY BET THE JACKSONVILLE DOLPHINS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-70 in favor of the Knights.
- Even though we have UCF winning straight-up, we like Jacksonville at +15.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 142.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.
Do the Dolphins Stand a Chance on the Road?
Jacksonville Dolphins Recent Game/Games
Jacksonville improved to 4-5 on the season with a 60-52 home win over East Tennessee State on Saturday, December 14th. Entering the game as +3 underdogs, the Dolphins not only pulled off the win but also covered the spread.
Jacksonville led 36-24 at halftime but allowed 28 points in the 2nd half while scoring 24. The game’s total points of 112 fell well short of the 148-point O/U line.
Jacksonville’s offense put up 60 points in their last game, shooting 43.4% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 49.1%. They connected on 51.5% of their two-point attempts (17/33) and hit 30% from beyond the arc (6/20), while going 8-for-11 (72.7%) at the free-throw line.
Robert McCray V led the way with 22 points, shooting 53.3% overall, though he struggled from deep, hitting just 1 of 6 attempts. Zimi Nwokeji was efficient, going 4-for-5 from three and 5-for-6 overall, finishing with 15 points. John Buggs III also added 15 points, knocking down 5 of 10 threes, and Quimari Peterson contributed 13 points and 5 assists.
Jacksonville’s defense held their opponent to 52 points, despite allowing them to shoot 43% from the field. The Dolphins gave up 17 two-point field goals on 33 attempts, a 51% shooting rate.
From beyond the arc, Jacksonville’s defense limited their opponent to 6 made threes on 20 attempts, a 30% success rate. They also sent them to the free-throw line 11 times, where they converted 8, shooting 72%.
Is It the Knights Game to Lose at Home?
UCF improved to 8-2 on the season with an 88-75 road win over Tulsa on Saturday. The Knights entered the game as -10.5 favorites and covered the spread, while the total points of 163 exceeded the O/U line of 143.5.
UCF led 45-39 at halftime and maintained control by outscoring Tulsa 43-36 in the second half.
UCF’s offense put up 88 points in their last game, shooting 46.3% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 52.2%. They hit 36.4% from beyond the arc, going 8-for-22, and were solid at the free-throw line, making 18-of-24 attempts (75%). The Knights also grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and dished out 19 assists.
Keaston Willis led the way with 22 points, hitting 6-of-9 from three-point range. Dwon Odom and Dallan Coleman each added 20 points, with Coleman shooting 75% overall and 66.7% from deep. Jordan Ivy-Curry contributed 16 points, connecting on 4-of-7 threes.
UCF’s defense gave up 75 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 42% from the field, hitting 24 of 57 attempts. Inside the arc, they held the other team to 41% shooting, as they made 15 of 36 two-point shots.
From three-point range, UCF allowed 9 made threes on 21 attempts, a 42% shooting performance. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 26 times, where they converted 18 free throws, shooting 69%. UCF gave up 12 offensive rebounds in the game.