Sam Houston Bearkats vs Liberty Flames NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 2/8/25
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Bearkats and Flames. The game is starting at 4:00 ET on ESPNN, and it’s hosted by the Flames at Liberty Arena in Lynchburg, VA. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this game is set at 144.5 points, and Liberty is favored by -12.5 vs. Sam Houston in a Conference USA conference matchup.
SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS VS LIBERTY FLAMES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Sam Houston Bearkats +12.5
This game will be played at Liberty Arena at 4:00 ET on Saturday, February 8th.
WHY BET THE SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-68 in favor of the Flames.
- Even though we have Liberty winning straight-up, we like Sam Houston at +12.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 144.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Will Sam Houston Pull Through as the Underdog Road Team?
Sam Houston Bearkats Recent Game/Games
Sam Houston’s season continued to be a struggle as they fell to 5-15 after an 85-82 loss to FIU on Thursday. The Bearkats were -1.5 point favorites going into the game but failed to cover the spread.
Sam Houston led 39-38 at the half but were edged out 36-35 in the 2nd half. The total points for the game reached 167, surpassing the O/U line of 145.5.
Sam Houston put up 82 points in their last game, shooting 42.4% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 50.8%. They hit 44% from beyond the arc, making 11 of 25 attempts, and were strong from the free-throw line, connecting on 21 of 25 for 84%. The Bearkats also grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and dished out 15 assists.
Jayden Brewer led the way with 25 points, shooting 47.1% overall and 66.7% from three. Josiah Hammons knocked down 6 of 9 threes, finishing with 18 points, while Marcus Boykin contributed 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists. Kalifa Sakho was perfect from the field, hitting all 6 of his attempts.
Even though Sam Houston allowed 85 points, they held their opponent to 38% shooting from the field. The Bearkats limited two-point opportunities, with the other team shooting 40% on 21/52 attempts.
From beyond the arc, Sam Houston’s defense allowed 8 threes on 23 attempts, a 34% shooting rate. They also sent their opponent to the line 27 times, where they converted 19 free throws for 70%.
Pressure Builds for Liberty as Home Favorites
Liberty Flames Recent Game/Games
Liberty improved to 15-5 on the season with a 77-53 home win over Louisiana Tech on Thursday, February 6th. The Flames, who were -8 favorites, covered the spread, while the game’s total of 130 points fell short of the O/U line of 134.5.
Liberty took control early, leading 39-23 at halftime, and maintained their dominance in the 2nd half, outscoring the Bulldogs 38-30.
Liberty’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 77 points with a 50% shooting performance from the field. Their effective field goal percentage stood at an impressive 60.3%, thanks in large part to their 52.2% shooting from beyond the arc, where they connected on 12 of 23 attempts.
Al Green led the way, hitting 4 of 5 threes and finishing with 18 points on 7 of 9 shooting overall. The Flames also dished out 19 assists, with Zach Cleveland contributing 5 assists to go along with his 14 points and 7 rebounds.
Liberty’s defense gave up 53 points, allowing their opponent to shoot 50% from the field with 29 made baskets on 58 attempts. From two-point range, the opposing team hit 17 out of 35 shots, good for 48%.
From beyond the arc, Liberty’s opponent connected on 12 of 23 attempts, shooting 52%. They also went to the free-throw line 12 times, making 7, which is 58%. Liberty limited them to just 4 offensive rebounds.