North Dakota Fighting Hawks vs Utah Valley Wolverines NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/11/24
The Fighting Hawks and Wolverines are set to face off at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The Wolverines will host the game at UCCU Center in Orem, UT. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 145.5 points, with Utah Valley being favored by -8 over North Dakota.
NORTH DAKOTA FIGHTING HAWKS VS UTAH VALLEY WOLVERINES BETTING PICK
The Pick: North Dakota Fighting Hawks +8
This game will be played at UCCU Center at 8:00 ET on Wednesday, December 11th.
WHY BET THE NORTH DAKOTA FIGHTING HAWKS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-73 in favor of the Fighting Hawks.
- Not only will North Dakota pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +8.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 145.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Will North Dakota Come Through as Road Underdogs?
North Dakota Fighting Hawks Recent Game/Games
North Dakota improved to 3-6 on the season with an 80-75 home win over Weber State on Saturday. The Fighting Hawks entered the game as +2.5 point underdogs but managed to cover the spread with the victory.
North Dakota led 36-31 at halftime and both teams scored 44 points in the 2nd half. The total points of 155 exceeded the over/under line of 145.5.
North Dakota put up 80 points in their last game, shooting 43.8% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 46.9%, with a strong 53.3% on two-point attempts, but they struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 21.1% (4/19) of their threes. They also connected on 69% of their free throws, going 20/29 from the line.
The Fighting Hawks grabbed 19 offensive rebounds and dished out 10 assists. Blaise Threatt led the way with 23 points on 9/12 shooting, while Mier Panoam added 22 points and 6 rebounds. Miguel Tomley contributed 18 points, hitting 3 of 8 from three-point range.
North Dakota’s defense gave up 75 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 43% from the field. They allowed 53% shooting on two-point attempts, as the other team went 24/45 inside the arc.
From three-point range, North Dakota held their opponent to 21% shooting, with just 4 made threes on 19 attempts. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 29 times, where they hit 20 free throws for 69%.
Will the Wolverines Make it Happen at Home?
Utah Valley Wolverines Recent Game/Games
Utah Valley dropped to 3-5 on the season after a 78-61 road loss to James Madison on Saturday. The Wolverines entered the game as +6.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The combined points of 139 fell just short of the 140.5 O/U line.
Utah Valley trailed 44-28 at halftime and couldn’t close the gap in the 2nd half, scoring 33 points while allowing 34.
Utah Valley’s offense struggled in their last game, shooting just 33.3% from the field and 22.7% from three-point range, finishing with 61 points. Their effective field goal percentage was 36.7%, and they managed 13 offensive rebounds, with only 7 assists as a team.
Bryce Lindsay led the way with 18 points, hitting 4 of 9 from deep, while Xavier Brown added 12 points and 7 assists, shooting 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. Osiris Grady also contributed 12 points, connecting on 2 of 4 three-point attempts.
Utah Valley’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 78 points on 50% shooting from the field. They allowed 27 made baskets on 54 attempts, with the opposing team hitting 50% of their two-point shots, going 14/28.
From beyond the arc, Utah Valley’s defense couldn’t contain the three-point shooters, who connected on 13 of 26 attempts, also at a 50% clip. The Wolverines sent their opponents to the free-throw line 16 times, where they made 11, shooting 68%. Utah Valley also gave up 9 offensive rebounds.