Northwestern Wildcats vs UNLV Runnin’ Rebels NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/29/24
The Wildcats and Runnin’ Rebels are set to face off at 7:00 ET on CBSS. The Runnin’ Rebels will host the game at Mullett Arena in Tempe, AZ. Northwestern is favored by -4 in this non-conference showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 137 points.
NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS VS UNLV RUNNIN’ REBELS BETTING PICK
The Pick: UNLV Runnin’ Rebels +4
This game will be played at Mullett Arena at 7:00 ET on Friday, November 29th.
WHY BET THE UNLV RUNNIN’ REBELS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-71 in favor of the Runnin’ Rebels.
- Not only will UNLV pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +4.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 137 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Will the Northwestern Defense Show Up on the Road?
Northwestern Wildcats Recent Game/Games
Northwestern dropped a close one to Butler, losing 71-69 on Thursday, November 28th. The Wildcats, who were -2.5 favorites, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game hit 140, going over the pre-game O/U line of 135.5.
After trailing 31-28 at halftime, Northwestern put up 41 points in the 2nd half but allowed 40, making it a tight finish. Despite the strong 2nd half, they couldn’t pull off the win on the road.
Northwestern’s offense struggled from the field in their last game, shooting just 36.1% overall and 25% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 39.3%, but they did hit 80.8% of their free throws, going 21-for-26 from the line.
Brooks Barnhizer and Jahmyl Telfort led the Wildcats with 24 and 23 points, respectively, with Telfort hitting 66.7% from deep. Andre Screen was efficient inside, shooting 70% from the field, while Matthew Nicholson connected on 75% of his attempts.
Despite Northwestern’s defensive efforts, they gave up 71 points, with their opponents shooting 46% from the field. The Wildcats allowed 16 two-point baskets on 31 attempts, a 51% success rate.
From beyond the arc, Northwestern’s defense saw their opponents hit 6 of 16 threes, a 37% clip. They also sent the other team to the line 27 times, where they converted 21 free throws at a 77% rate. Northwestern gave up 8 offensive rebounds.
Do the Runnin’ Rebels Have What it Takes to Win as Home Underdogs?
The Runnin’ Rebels’ recent struggles continued on Thursday, as they fell 80-58 to Mississippi State at home. Entering the game as +8.5 point underdogs, UNLV not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.
UNLV trailed 45-32 at halftime and couldn’t mount a comeback, scoring just 26 points in the 2nd half while allowing 35. The combined score of 138 points fell short of the O/U line of 147.
UNLV managed just 58 points in their latest outing, shooting 43.8% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc, hitting 8 of 20 three-point attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 52.1%, though they struggled at the free-throw line, connecting on only 53.3% of their 15 attempts.
KeShawn Murphy led the way with 14 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 55.6% overall. Jailen Bedford added 13 points, hitting 3 of 6 from deep, while Josh Hubbard also knocked down 3 threes, finishing with 11 points.
UNLV gave up 80 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 43% from the field. They allowed 21 made field goals on 48 attempts.
From beyond the arc, the other team hit 8 of 20 threes, shooting 40%. UNLV also sent them to the free-throw line 15 times, where they made 8 free throws.