Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers vs George Mason Patriots NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/28/24

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Mountaineers and Patriots. The game is starting at 2:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Patriots at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, VA. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 137.5 points, and George Mason is favored by -15.5 at home against Mount St. Mary’s.

MOUNT ST. MARY’S MOUNTAINEERS VS GEORGE MASON PATRIOTS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers +15.5

This game will be played at EagleBank Arena at 2:00 ET on Saturday, December 28th.

WHY BET THE MOUNT ST. MARY’S MOUNTAINEERS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-68 in favor of the Patriots.
• Even though we have George Mason winning straight-up, we like Mount St. Mary’s at +15.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 137.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.

Do the Mountaineers Stand a Chance in Fairfax?

Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers Recent Game/Games

Mount St. Mary’s improved to 7-4 on the season with a 78-74 win over Miami on Saturday. The Mountaineers, who were +17 point underdogs, not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread. The total points for the game hit 152, just over the 150.5 O/U line.

After trailing 38-28 at halftime, Mount St. Mary’s turned the game around by outscoring Miami 38-28 in the 2nd half.

Mount St. Mary’s put up 78 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field and posting an effective field goal percentage of 56.7%. They hit 42.1% from beyond the arc, connecting on 8 of 19 attempts, and went 10 for 14 from the free-throw line, good for 71.4%.

Matthew Cleveland led the Mountaineers with 19 points, while Terrell Ard Jr. added 18, shooting 77.8% from the field. Carmelo Pacheco and Jalen Blackmon each contributed 16 points, with Pacheco hitting 4 of 8 from three-point range.

Mount St. Mary’s defense gave up 74 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 40% from the field. They allowed 23 two-point baskets on 44 attempts, a 52% shooting rate.

From beyond the arc, Mount St. Mary’s held their opponents to 5/25 shooting, just 20%. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 15 times, where they converted 13 free throws (86%).

Can George Mason Live Up to the Hype at Home?

George Mason Patriots Recent Game/Games

George Mason improved to 7-4 on the season with an 85-53 win over Penn on Sunday, December 22nd. The Patriots, who were -15.5 point favorites, covered the spread in the victory.

Leading 35-25 at halftime, George Mason scored 50 points in the 2nd half while holding Penn to 28. The total points for the game ended at 138, just over the pre-game O/U line of 137.5.

George Mason put up 85 points in their last game, shooting 50.8% from the field and hitting 50% from beyond the arc, making 9 of 18 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 57.6%, and they were solid from the free-throw line, converting 16 of 19 for 84.2%.

The Patriots dished out 20 assists, with Jalen Haynes leading the way with 15 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 7 of 9 from the field. Jared Billups was perfect from three, hitting 2 of 2 and finishing with 11 points on 4 of 5 shooting overall.

Despite giving up 53 points, George Mason’s defense struggled, allowing the opponent to shoot 50% from the field, including 51% on two-point attempts. They also sent the opposing team to the line 19 times, where they converted 16 free throws at an 84% rate.

From beyond the arc, George Mason’s defense couldn’t contain the three-point shooting, as the opponent hit 9 of 18 threes, shooting 50% from deep. They also allowed 7 offensive rebounds in the game.