Penn State Nittany Lions vs Drexel Dragons NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/21/24
Betting on today’s Nittany Lions and Dragons game? Catch the action at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA, as the Dragons hosts this showdown at 12:00 ET on ESPN+. Penn State is favored by -16.5 in this non-conference showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 147.5 points.
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS VS DREXEL DRAGONS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Drexel Dragons +16.5
This game will be played at Wells Fargo Center at 12:00 ET on Saturday, December 21st.
WHY BET THE DREXEL DRAGONS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-70 in favor of the Dragons.
- Not only will Drexel pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +16.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 147.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.
Are Penn State Ready for a Road Win?
Penn State improved to 9-2 on the season with a dominant 99-51 win over Coppin State on Saturday. The Nittany Lions were heavy favorites at -36.5 and covered the spread, while the combined points of 150 went over the pre-game line of 145.
Penn State took control early, leading 52-21 at halftime. They kept up the pressure in the second half, scoring 47 points and allowing just 30.
Penn State’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 99 points with a field goal percentage of 56.7%. Their effective field goal percentage was even more impressive at 65.7%, thanks in large part to their 81.8% shooting from two-point range, hitting 27 of 33 attempts.
The Nittany Lions also connected on 11 threes, shooting 32.4% from beyond the arc, and went 12 for 16 from the free-throw line. Ace Baldwin Jr. dished out 16 assists, contributing to the team’s total of 31, while Nick Kern Jr. was perfect from the field, hitting all 4 of his shots.
Despite giving up 51 points, Penn State’s defense struggled, allowing the opposing team to shoot 56% from the field, including 81% on two-point attempts (27/33). They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 16 times, where they converted 12 free throws.
From beyond the arc, the opposing team shot 32%, making 11 of their 34 three-point attempts. Penn State also gave up 10 offensive rebounds in the game.
Can The Dragons Secure a Home Victory?
The Dragons improved to 7-4 on the season with a 68-65 win over Howard on Tuesday. Drexel entered the game as slight favorites and covered the spread with the win.
Drexel led 36-34 at halftime and edged out Howard by a point in the second half, scoring 32 points while allowing 31. The total points for the game were 133, falling short of the 143.5 O/U line.
Drexel’s offense put up 68 points in their last game, shooting 40.3% from the field. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 25% of their threes (7/28), but were more efficient inside, connecting on 52.9% of their two-point attempts (18/34).
At the free-throw line, the Dragons were nearly perfect, making 11 of 12 attempts (91.7%). Jason Drake led the team with 21 points, while Yame Butler added 16, hitting 3 of 7 from deep. Marcus Dockery contributed 14 points, and Blake Harper chipped in 11, despite shooting just 23.5% overall.
Drexel’s defense held their opponent to 65 points on 39% shooting from the field, including 43% from two-point range with 19 made baskets out of 44 attempts.
From beyond the arc, Drexel limited their opponent to 6 threes on 20 attempts, a 30% shooting rate. They also sent them to the free-throw line 10 times, where they converted 9 free throws, shooting 90%.