Northwestern Wildcats vs Butler Bulldogs NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/28/24

Looking to win big? The Wildcats and Bulldogs face off at 7:00 ET on CBSS. The Bulldogs are hosting the game at Mullett Arena in Tempe, AZ. In this non-conference matchup, Northwestern is favored by -1.5 against Butler. The over/under for the game is 134.5 points.

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS VS BUTLER BULLDOGS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Butler Bulldogs +1.5

This game will be played at Mullett Arena at 7:00 ET on Thursday, November 28th.

WHY BET THE BUTLER BULLDOGS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-69 in favor of the Bulldogs.
• Not only will Butler pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +1.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 134.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.

Can Northwestern Live Up to the Hype on the Road?

Northwestern Wildcats Recent Game/Games

Northwestern picked up a 68-50 win over Pepperdine on Friday, November 22nd, at home. The Wildcats were -17 favorites and covered the spread, while the total points of 118 fell short of the 137.5 O/U line.

Northwestern led 31-19 at halftime and outscored Pepperdine 37-31 in the 2nd half.

Northwestern’s offense put up 68 points in their last game, shooting 42.1% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 43.9%, with a rough 18.2% from beyond the arc, hitting just 2 of 11 three-point attempts. They were solid at the free-throw line, connecting on 18 of 21 attempts for 85.7%.

Jalen Leach led the way with 21 points, shooting 58.3% overall and hitting 1 of 2 from deep. Nick Martinelli added 20 points, shooting 50% from the field and 1 of 2 from three-point range. Brooks Barnhizer contributed 13 points and 6 rebounds, while Jaxon Olvera chipped in 11 points, hitting 2 of 4 from three.

Northwestern’s defense held their opponent to just 50 points, with the Wildcats allowing them to shoot 42% from the field on 24 of 57 attempts. Inside the arc, Northwestern gave up 22 two-point baskets on 46 tries, a 47% shooting rate.

From three-point range, Northwestern’s defense was strong, limiting their opponent to just 2 made threes on 11 attempts, for an 18% shooting percentage. The Wildcats also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 21 times, where they converted 18 free throws, an 85% success rate. Northwestern allowed 6 offensive rebounds in the game.

Can Butler Lock in a Home Win?

Butler Bulldogs Recent Game/Games

Butler improved to 4-0 on the season with a dominant 78-39 win over Merrimack on Friday, November 22nd. The Bulldogs, who were -12.5 favorites, not only secured the win but also covered the spread. The game’s total points (117) fell short of the O/U line of 135.5.

After leading 37-31 at halftime, Butler’s defense clamped down in the 2nd half, allowing just 8 points while scoring 41. This strong defensive effort was key in their blowout victory.

Butler put up 78 points in their latest game, shooting 47.1% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 54.9%. They connected on 40% of their three-point attempts, going 8-for-20 from beyond the arc, while hitting 51.6% of their two-point shots.

Pierre Brooks II led the way with 23 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 64.3% overall and 80% from three-point range, hitting 4 of 5 attempts. Butler also got 17 assists and 14 offensive rebounds, while shooting 71% from the free-throw line, making 22 of 31 attempts.

Butler’s defense gave up 39 points while allowing the opponent to shoot 47% from the field. They hit 24 of 51 shots, including 16 of 31 from two-point range at a 51% clip.

From beyond the arc, Butler’s opponent went 8 for 20, shooting 40%. They also sent them to the free-throw line 31 times, where they made 22, shooting 71%. Butler allowed 14 offensive rebounds.