Seattle Redhawks vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/17/24

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Redhawks and Hilltoppers. The game is starting at 8:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Hilltoppers at E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, KY. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 149.5 points, and Western Kentucky is favored by -7 at home against Seattle.

SEATTLE REDHAWKS VS WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers -7

This game will be played at E. A. Diddle Arena at 8:00 ET on Tuesday, December 17th.

WHY BET THE WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 80-67 in favor of the Hilltoppers.
• Not only will Western Kentucky pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -7.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 149.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.

Will Seattle Shock Everyone at E. A. Diddle Arena?

Seattle fell to 2-6 on the season after an 88-72 loss to UTEP on Saturday. The Redhawks, who were +3.5 point underdogs, didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points reached 160, surpassing the O/U line of 133.5.

Seattle struggled early, trailing 48-23 at halftime, but showed some fight by scoring 49 points in the 2nd half while allowing 40.

In their latest game, the Seattle Redhawks put up 72 points, shooting 44.9% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 55.1%. They connected on 43.5% of their three-point attempts, going 10-for-23 from deep, and hit 72% of their free throws, making 18-of-25 from the line. The Redhawks also grabbed 10 offensive rebounds and dished out 15 assists.

Ahamad Bynum led the way with 19 points in just 18 minutes, shooting 7-for-9 from the field and 2-for-2 from three-point range. Otis Frazier III and Paris Dawson each added 18 points, with Frazier contributing 5 assists and Dawson hitting 4 threes. Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe chipped in 14 points and 8 rebounds, while Kevin Kalu and Derick Hamilton both shot 83.3%, finishing with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Seattle’s defense struggled, giving up 88 points on 56% shooting. They allowed 32 field goals on 57 attempts.

Inside the arc, the Redhawks gave up 25 two-pointers on 40 tries, a 62% rate. From three, they allowed 7 of 17, or 41% shooting. They also sent the opponent to the line 19 times, where they hit 17 free throws, an 89% clip.

Can the Hilltoppers Secure a Win at Home?

Western Kentucky improved to 6-3 on the season with an 81-76 win over Murray State on Saturday. Playing at home, the Hilltoppers were -5.5 point favorites but didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 157 exceeded the over/under line of 148.5.

After trailing 39-33 at halftime, Western Kentucky tightened up defensively in the second half, allowing just 28 points while scoring 34 of their own to secure the win.

Western Kentucky put up 81 points in their latest game, despite shooting just 38% from the field and 24% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 42.3%, but they made up for it at the free-throw line, hitting 21 of 25 attempts for 84%.

Don McHenry led the way with 29 points, shooting 4 of 10 from deep, while JaCobi Wood added 22 points, connecting on 5 of 10 from three. Wood also contributed 6 assists. Babacar Faye and Nick Ellington were efficient inside, with Faye grabbing 9 rebounds and Ellington shooting 66.7% from the field.

Despite giving up 76 points, Western Kentucky’s defense held their opponent to 38% shooting from the field, with 27 made baskets on 71 attempts. Inside the arc, they allowed 21 of 46 shots to fall, a 45% success rate.

The Hilltoppers were more effective in defending the three-point line, where their opponent shot just 24%, making 6 of 25 attempts. However, they sent the other team to the free-throw line 25 times, where they converted 21 for 84%. Western Kentucky also gave up 15 offensive rebounds.