Northern Illinois Huskies vs Valparaiso Beacons NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/27/24

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Huskies and Beacons. The game is starting at 4:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Beacons at Athletics-Recreation Center in Valparaiso, IN. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 140.5 points, with Valparaiso being favored by -10 over Northern Illinois.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES VS VALPARAISO BEACONS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Northern Illinois Huskies +10

This game will be played at Athletics-Recreation Center at 4:00 ET on Wednesday, November 27th.

WHY BET THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-70 in favor of the Beacons.
• Even though we have Valparaiso winning straight-up, we like Northern Illinois at +10.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 140.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.

Do the Huskies Have What it Takes in Valparaiso?

Northern Illinois faced a tough challenge on Saturday, falling 98-52 to DePaul on the road. Entering the game as +18 point underdogs, the Huskies struggled to keep it close and didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game hit 150, surpassing the O/U line of 142.5.

NIU found themselves in a deep hole early, trailing 51-15 at halftime. They managed to score 37 points in the 2nd half but allowed 47, continuing their defensive struggles.

In their last game, Northern Illinois struggled offensively, scoring just 52 points while shooting 25.4% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 29.9%, with two-point shooting at 28.9% and three-point shooting at 20.7% (6/29). They did manage to hit 80% of their free throws, connecting on 12 of 15 attempts.

Layden Blocker was a bright spot, scoring 21 points and grabbing 8 rebounds, shooting 61.5% from the field and 60% from three-point range (3/5). Conor Enright also contributed, hitting all 3 of his three-point attempts and finishing with 13 points and 7 rebounds.

Northern Illinois struggled defensively, giving up 98 points on 54% shooting. Their opponent was particularly effective from two-point range, hitting 56% of their shots.

The Huskies also allowed 15 threes on 51% shooting from beyond the arc. They sent their opponent to the line 15 times, where they converted 73% of their free throws.

Can Valparaiso Grab a Win at Home?

Valparaiso Beacons Recent Game/Games

Valparaiso cruised to an 81-53 win over Eastern Illinois on Sunday, November 24th. The Beacons were -6.5 favorites heading into the game and covered the spread with the win. The total points for the game were 134, falling short of the 142-point over/under line.

Valparaiso led 35-29 at halftime and dominated the second half, scoring 46 points while holding Eastern Illinois to just 24 points.

Valparaiso put up 81 points in their last game, shooting 38.7% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 46.8%. They connected on 10 of 31 three-point attempts (32.3%) and were 14 of 31 from two-point range (45.2%). At the free-throw line, they were nearly perfect, hitting 23 of 25 attempts for a 92% success rate.

The Beacons grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and dished out 17 assists. Nakyel Shelton led the way with 20 points, while Tyler Schmidt added 19 points, going 4 for 4 from the field and 2 for 2 from beyond the arc. Justus McNair contributed 16 points, hitting 4 of 6 threes in just 15 minutes of action.

Valparaiso’s defense held their opponents to just 53 points, allowing them to shoot 38% from the field on 24 of 62 attempts. Inside the arc, they gave up 14 of 31 shooting, which is 45%.

From three-point range, Valparaiso’s defense allowed 10 of 31 shooting, or 32%. They also sent their opponents to the free-throw line 25 times, where they converted 23 of those attempts, shooting 92%.