Niagara Purple Eagles vs Fairfield Stags NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/16/25
Looking to win big? The Purple Eagles and Stags face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Stags are hosting the game at Leo D. Mahoney Arena in Fairfield, CT. Niagara is favored by -1.5 in this Metro Atlantic Athletic conference contest against Fairfield. The game’s over/under currently sits at 135.5 points.
NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES VS FAIRFIELD STAGS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Fairfield Stags +1.5
This game will be played at Leo D. Mahoney Arena at 7:00 ET on Thursday, January 16th.
WHY BET THE FAIRFIELD STAGS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-69 in favor of the Stags.
- Not only will Fairfield pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +1.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 135.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.
Is a Road Win Possible for the Purple Eagles?
Niagara dropped to 6-9 on the season after a 68-65 home loss to Rider on Sunday. The Purple Eagles were -5.5 favorites but failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 133, just under the O/U line of 134.5.
After trailing 33-26 at halftime, Niagara put up 39 points in the 2nd half while allowing 35, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.
Niagara’s offense put up 65 points in their last game, shooting 52% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 60%. They connected on 61.3% of their two-point attempts (19/31) and hit 36.8% from beyond the arc (7/19). The Purple Eagles struggled at the free-throw line, making just 6 of 10 attempts.
T.J. Weeks Jr. led the way with 18 points, hitting 4 of 7 from three-point range. Justice Smith added 17 points, shooting 70% overall. Zion Russell chipped in 11 points and 6 assists, going 5 for 6 from the field and perfect from three.
Niagara’s defense struggled in their last game, allowing 68 points on 52% shooting from the field. The Purple Eagles gave up 19 two-point baskets on 31 attempts, with their opponents hitting 61% of their shots inside the arc.
From three-point range, Niagara’s opponents shot 36%, making 7 of 19 attempts. The Purple Eagles sent them to the free-throw line 10 times, where they converted 6 shots for 60%. Niagara limited offensive rebounds, giving up just 4 in the game.
Will Fairfield Find a Way to Win at Home?
Fairfield Stags Recent Game/Games
Fairfield’s season record fell to 5-10 after a 61-51 loss to Marist on Sunday. The Stags, who were +7.5 point underdogs going into the game, didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 112, well under the O/U line of 135.5.
After a 25-25 tie at halftime, Fairfield struggled in the second half, scoring 26 points while allowing 36.
Fairfield’s offense struggled in their last game, putting up just 51 points and shooting 36.5% from the field. They hit only 28.1% of their two-point attempts, but found success from beyond the arc, connecting on 50% of their threes (10/20).
Jamie Bergens led the way with 16 points, hitting 3 of 4 from deep. Jackson Price contributed 12 points and 6 rebounds, despite missing all 4 of his three-point attempts.
Fairfield’s defense gave up 61 points, even though they allowed the opposing team to shoot 50% from the field. The Stags struggled to contain two-point shots, with their opponents hitting 64% (22/34) from inside the arc.
From three-point range, Fairfield held their opponents to just 22% shooting, as they went 4/18. The Stags also limited free-throw opportunities, with the other team making 5/6 (83%). Fairfield allowed 5 offensive rebounds in the game.