NJIT Highlanders vs Massachusetts Minutemen NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/1/24
Looking to win big? The Highlanders and Minutemen face off at 12:00 ET on ESPN+. The Minutemen are hosting the game at William D. Mullins Memorial Center in Amherst, MA. The over/under for this game is set at 140 points, and Massachusetts is favored by -16.5 against NJIT in a non-conference matchup.
NJIT HIGHLANDERS VS MASSACHUSETTS MINUTEMEN BETTING PICK
The Pick: NJIT Highlanders +16.5
This game will be played at William D. Mullins Memorial Center at 12:00 ET on Sunday, December 1st.
WHY BET THE NJIT HIGHLANDERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-70 in favor of the Minutemen.
- Even though we have Massachusetts winning straight-up, we like NJIT at +16.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 140 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.
Can the Highlanders Grab a Win on the Road?
On Wednesday, November 27th, the Highlanders picked up a 78-69 road win over Morehead State. Entering the game as +8 point underdogs, NJIT not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.
Trailing 32-31 at halftime, NJIT turned things around in the 2nd half, outscoring the Eagles 47-37. The game’s total points of 147 exceeded the O/U line of 129.5.
NJIT’s offense put up 78 points in their last game, shooting 46.2% from the field and 43.5% from beyond the arc, with an effective field goal percentage of 55.8%. They were also strong from the free-throw line, hitting 87% of their attempts (20/23) and grabbing 12 offensive rebounds, while dishing out 11 assists.
Kenny White Jr. led the way with 34 points and 7 rebounds, shooting 61.9% overall. Sebastian Robinson added 21 points, knocking down 4 of his 7 three-point attempts, while Tariq Francis contributed 23 points, despite shooting just 20% from deep.
Despite NJIT’s defensive efforts, they allowed 69 points in their last game, with their opponents shooting 43% from the field. The Highlanders gave up 25 field goals on 58 attempts, including 17 two-pointers at a 45% clip.
From beyond the arc, NJIT’s defense saw their opponents hit 8 of 21 threes, or 38%. The Highlanders also sent the other team to the line 23 times, where they converted 11 free throws for 47%. NJIT allowed 16 offensive rebounds in the contest.
Can the Minutemen Secure a Win at Home?
Massachusetts Minutemen Recent Game/Games
Massachusetts picked up a 62-54 win over Harvard on Wednesday, November 27th. The Minutemen were -2.5 point favorites going into the game and covered the spread with the win. The total points for the game were 116, well below the O/U line of 148.5.
After a 24-24 tie at halftime, Massachusetts stepped up in the 2nd half, scoring 38 points while holding Harvard to 30. The Minutemen’s strong 2nd half performance was key to their win.
In their last game, Massachusetts struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 1 of 16 threes for a 6.2% shooting percentage. Overall, they shot 40.3% from the field, with an effective field goal percentage of 41.8%.
Inside the arc, the Minutemen connected on 51% of their two-point attempts, and they grabbed 21 offensive rebounds. Thomas Batties II led the team with 16 points and 3 assists, while Rahsool Diggins and Daniel Hankins-Sanford each added 14 points.
Massachusetts put on a defensive clinic, holding their opponent to just 54 points on 37% shooting. The Minutemen were particularly effective inside, limiting two-point attempts to 41% shooting.
From beyond the arc, Massachusetts kept their opponent in check, allowing just 6 threes on 20 attempts (30%). They also sent them to the line only 3 times, where they hit 2 free throws.