Miami (OH) RedHawks vs Vermont Catamounts NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/18/24

Betting on today’s RedHawks and Catamounts game? Catch the action at Patrick Gymnasium in Burlington, VT, as the Catamounts hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 130.5 points, with Vermont being favored by -3.5 over Miami (OH).
MIAMI (OH) REDHAWKS VS VERMONT CATAMOUNTS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Vermont Catamounts -3.5
This game will be played at Patrick Gymnasium at 7:00 ET on Wednesday, December 18th.
WHY BET THE VERMONT CATAMOUNTS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-67 in favor of the Catamounts.
- Not only will Vermont pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -3.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 130.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.
Can the RedHawks Grab a Win in Burlington?
Miami (OH) fell to 5-3 on the season after a 76-57 road loss to Indiana on Friday. The RedHawks entered the game as +18.5 point underdogs and didn’t cover the spread. The combined 133 points fell short of the 150.5 O/U line.
Miami (OH) trailed 39-36 at halftime but struggled in the 2nd half, scoring just 21 points while allowing 37.
Miami (OH) struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 30.8% from the field and scoring 57 points. Their effective field goal percentage was 40%, and they hit 11 of 32 three-point attempts, shooting 34.4% from deep. They also struggled from the free-throw line, making only 6 of 11 attempts (54.5%).
Malik Reneau led the team with 19 points and 7 rebounds, shooting 53.3% from the field. Myles Rice added 17 points, hitting 6 of 7 shots overall and 2 of 3 from three-point range. Oumar Ballo contributed 14 points and 18 rebounds, shooting 83.3% from the field and dishing out 6 assists.
Even with Miami (OH) allowing 76 points, their defense struggled, giving up 53% shooting from the field. The RedHawks had a tough time inside, where they allowed 64% shooting on two-point attempts, with the opposing team hitting 22 of 34 shots.
From beyond the arc, Miami (OH) gave up 6 threes on 18 attempts, a 33% clip. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 19 times, where they converted 14 free throws, shooting 73%. The RedHawks allowed 9 offensive rebounds in the game.
Do the Catamounts Have a Shot at a Home Win?
Vermont dropped to 4-7 on the season after a 65-60 road loss to Colgate on Sunday. The Catamounts entered the game as 1.5-point favorites but failed to cover the spread.
Vermont trailed 28-26 at halftime and couldn’t close the gap in the second half, where they were outscored 37-34. The game’s total points of 125 fell short of the 128.5 O/U line.
Vermont struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 38.8% from the field and 30.4% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 44.9%, and they managed to score only 60 points.
Nick Fiorillo was a bright spot, hitting 5 of 7 threes and finishing with 23 points and 6 rebounds. He shot 72.7% overall. TJ Hurley added 19 points, despite shooting just 25% from beyond the arc.
Vermont’s defense put up a solid effort, holding their opponent to 65 points on 41% shooting from the field. Inside the arc, they allowed 15 two-point field goals on 30 attempts, a 50% success rate.
From three-point range, Vermont’s defense limited the damage, with their opponent hitting 7 of 23 attempts for 30%. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 18 times, where they converted 14 free throws, shooting 77%.