Kansas State Wildcats vs Wichita State Shockers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/21/24
Betting on today’s Wildcats and Shockers game? Catch the action at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, KS, as the Shockers hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. Kansas State is favored by -2.5 in this non-conference showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 153 points.
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS VS WICHITA STATE SHOCKERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Wichita State Shockers +2.5
This game will be played at Charles Koch Arena at 7:00 ET on Saturday, December 21st.
WHY BET THE WICHITA STATE SHOCKERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-70 in favor of the Shockers.
- Not only will Wichita State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +2.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 153 points, and we like the under with a projected 145 points.
Can the Wildcats Pull Out the Win as Road Favorites?
The Wildcats fell to 6-4 on the season after a 73-70 loss to Drake on Tuesday. Kansas State was a -1.5 favorite at home but couldn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 143, surpassing the O/U line of 133.5.
Kansas State trailed 36-27 at halftime but turned things around in the 2nd half, scoring 36 points while holding Drake to 27. Despite the strong finish, the Wildcats couldn’t complete the comeback.
Kansas State’s offense put up 70 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field and posting an effective field goal percentage of 57.7%. They connected on 61.3% of their two-point attempts, while hitting 33.3% from beyond the arc, going 7-for-21 from three-point range. Their free-throw shooting was a struggle, as they hit just 55% from the line, making 11 of 20 attempts.
The Wildcats dished out 21 assists, with Mitch Mascari leading the way offensively, scoring 25 points on 8-of-10 shooting from three-point range, finishing 8-of-11 overall. Bennett Stirtz added 22 points, shooting 61.5% from the field, while Coleman Hawkins contributed 16 points and 5 assists, hitting 66.7% of his shots.
Despite Kansas State’s defensive struggles, they allowed 73 points on 50% shooting from the field. The Wildcats gave up 19 two-point baskets on 31 attempts, a 61% success rate for their opponent.
From beyond the arc, Kansas State’s defense conceded 7 threes on 21 attempts, a 33% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 20 times, where they converted 11 shots, shooting 55%.
Does Wichita State Stand a Chance at Home?
Wichita State fell to 8-3 on the season after a surprising 74-64 home loss to Kansas City on Tuesday. The Shockers, who were -13.5 favorites, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 138, falling short of the 146.5 O/U line.
Wichita State trailed 38-24 at halftime but showed some fight in the 2nd half, outscoring Kansas City 40-36. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome the early deficit.
Wichita State struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 38.7% from the field and 15.8% from three-point range, hitting only 3 of 19 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 41.9%, and they also had issues at the free-throw line, making just 54.2% of their attempts.
Xavier Bell led the Shockers with 21 points, shooting 60% from the field. Babacar Diallo and Jamar Brown each contributed 18 points, with Brown hitting 3 of 4 from beyond the arc. The Shockers managed 13 offensive rebounds and finished with just 7 assists as a team.
Wichita State’s defense gave up 74 points while holding their opponent to 38% shooting from the field. The Shockers allowed 21 two-point baskets on 43 attempts, a 48% success rate.
From beyond the arc, Wichita State’s defense limited their opponent to just 3 made threes on 19 attempts, a 15% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 24 times, where they made 13, shooting 54%.