Radford Highlanders vs North Carolina Central Eagles NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/5/24
Looking to win big? The Highlanders and Eagles face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Eagles are hosting the game at McDougald-McLendon Arena in Durham, NC. Radford comes into this non-conference matchup as the -3 point favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 140.5 points.
RADFORD HIGHLANDERS VS NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL EAGLES BETTING PICK
The Pick: North Carolina Central Eagles +3
This game will be played at McDougald-McLendon Arena at 7:00 ET on Thursday, December 5th.
WHY BET THE NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL EAGLES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-71 in favor of the Eagles.
- Not only will North Carolina Central pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +3.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 140.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.
Can The Highlanders Secure a Road Victory?
Radford Highlanders Recent Game/Games
Radford improved to 6-2 on the season with a 79-70 road win over Saint Francis U on Sunday. The Highlanders, who were -6.5 favorites, covered the spread in the victory.
Radford took control early, leading 44-31 at halftime. They scored 35 points in the 2nd half while allowing 39. The game’s total points of 149 exceeded the O/U line of 136.
Radford’s offense was clicking in their last game, putting up 79 points with a 50% field goal percentage. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 62.5%, thanks in part to hitting 42.3% from beyond the arc, connecting on 11 of 26 attempts. At the free-throw line, they converted 80% of their shots, going 20 for 25.
Brandon Maclin led the way with 22 points, shooting 63.6% overall and 66.7% from three, hitting 6 of 9 from deep. Truth Harris added 16 points, while Bobby Rosenberger III and Juan Cranford Jr. each contributed 15. Riley Parker chipped in 14 points and 7 rebounds, and Josiah Harris was efficient inside, shooting 75% and grabbing 8 boards.
Radford’s defense held their opponent to 70 points on 38% shooting from the field, including 39% from two-point range (13/33). From beyond the arc, the opponent shot 37%, hitting 11 of their 29 three-point attempts.
At the free-throw line, Radford’s opponent made 11 of 13 attempts, good for 84%. The Highlanders also allowed 11 offensive rebounds in the game.
Will the Eagles Exceed Expectations at Home?
North Carolina Central Eagles Recent Game/Games
The Eagles fell to 1-6 on the season after a 93-79 loss to Georgia State on Friday, November 22nd. Playing as +4 point underdogs on the road, North Carolina Central not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.
After trailing 43-38 at halftime, the Eagles allowed 50 points in the 2nd half while scoring 41. The game’s total points reached 172, surpassing the over/under line of 143.5.
North Carolina Central put up 79 points in their last game, shooting 43.1% from the field and 39.1% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 49.2%, and they were impressive from the free-throw line, hitting 87.5% of their attempts (14/16).
The Eagles grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and dished out 18 assists. Toneari Lane and Nick McMullen both shot 75% from the floor, with McMullen adding 11 rebounds. Zarique Nutter also contributed 20 points, shooting 77.8% in just 24 minutes.
North Carolina Central’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 93 points while allowing the opposing team to shoot 70% from the field. They were particularly vulnerable inside, where they allowed 24 of 30 shooting on two-point attempts.
The Eagles also couldn’t contain the three-point line, with their opponents hitting 9 of 17 threes, a 52% clip. They sent the other team to the free-throw line 25 times, where they made 18 shots. North Carolina Central gave up 8 offensive rebounds as well.