Rider Broncs vs Sacred Heart Pioneers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 2/6/25

Looking to win big? The Broncs and Pioneers face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Pioneers are hosting the game at William H. Pitt Center in Fairfield, CT. This Metro Atlantic Athletic conference matchup has an over/under of 147.5 points, and Sacred Heart is favored to win by -5.5 at home vs. Rider.

RIDER BRONCS VS SACRED HEART PIONEERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Sacred Heart Pioneers -5.5

This game will be played at William H. Pitt Center at 7:00 ET on Thursday, February 6th.

WHY BET THE SACRED HEART PIONEERS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-70 in favor of the Pioneers.
• Not only will Sacred Heart pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -5.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 147.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.

No Pressure for Rider as Away Dogs

Rider Broncs Recent Game/Games

Rider fell to 8-14 on the season after a narrow 66-64 loss to Merrimack on Sunday. Despite being +5 underdogs, the Broncs kept it close, covering the spread in the home game.

Rider led 38-37 at halftime but managed only 26 points in the 2nd half while allowing 29. The total points for the game were 130, just over the O/U line of 128.5.

Rider’s offense put up 64 points in their last game, shooting 45.3% from the field and 46.2% from three-point range, hitting 6 of 13 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 50.9%, and they were perfect from the free-throw line, going 10 for 10.

Adam Clark led the way with 22 points and 10 assists, despite missing all 3 of his three-point attempts. T.J. Weeks Jr. hit 4 of 7 from deep, finishing with 14 points, while Zion Cruz added 15 points on 58.3% shooting.

Rider’s defense gave up 66 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 45% from the field, hitting 24 of their 53 attempts. Inside the arc, the Broncs allowed 18 two-point baskets on 40 tries, a 45% conversion rate.

From three-point range, the opposition shot 46%, making 6 of 13 attempts. Rider also sent them to the free-throw line 10 times, where they were perfect, hitting all 10 free throws. The Broncs allowed 10 offensive rebounds.

Can the Pioneers Offense Score Enough at Home?

Sacred Heart Pioneers Recent Game/Games

The Pioneers improved to 8-12 on the season with a 74-72 win over Manhattan on Sunday. Sacred Heart was favored by 4.5 points going into the game, but they didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 146, which was under the O/U line of 152.5.

After leading 33-31 at halftime, Sacred Heart scored and allowed 41 points in the second half. While they got the win, they’ll need to address their defense moving forward.

Sacred Heart’s offense put up 74 points in their last game, shooting 40.3% from the field. They connected on 13 of 37 three-point attempts, hitting 35.1% from deep, and finished with an effective field goal percentage of 50.7%.

Anquan Hill and Devin Dinkins each scored 24 points, with Hill shooting 75% overall and 66.7% from three. Dinkins hit 50% from beyond the arc. The Pioneers recorded 18 assists and grabbed 10 offensive rebounds.

Despite Sacred Heart’s defensive efforts, they allowed 72 points on 40% shooting from the field. The opposing team managed to hit 27 of their 67 attempts.

From beyond the arc, the Pioneers gave up 13 threes on 37 attempts, a 35% success rate. They also sent the other team to the line 11 times, where they converted 7 free throws.