Southern Utah Thunderbirds vs New Mexico State Aggies NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/16/24
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Thunderbirds and Aggies. The game is starting at 9:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Aggies at Pan American Center in Las Cruces, NM. Get ready to place your bets! The odds for this non-conference game currently have New Mexico State as the -5.5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 147.5 points.
SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS VS NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Southern Utah Thunderbirds +5.5
This game will be played at Pan American Center at 9:00 ET on Monday, December 16th.
WHY BET THE SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-73 in favor of the Thunderbirds.
- Not only will Southern Utah 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.
Will the Southern Utah Defense Show Up on the Road?
Southern Utah Thunderbirds Recent Game/Games
Southern Utah’s record dropped to 5-3 after a 102-66 road loss to Arizona on Saturday. Entering the game as +28 underdogs, the Thunderbirds failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 168, surpassing the over/under line of 158.5.
Arizona dominated the first half, leading 55-23 at the break. Southern Utah managed to score 43 points in the second half but allowed 47, highlighting their struggles on both ends of the court.
Southern Utah struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 37.5% from the field and 38.9% on two-point attempts. They hit 35.7% of their threes, connecting on 10 of 28 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 45.3%, and they made only 53.3% of their free throws, going 8 for 15 from the line.
Jamir Simpson led the Thunderbirds with 21 points, hitting 3 of 6 from deep and adding 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Anthony Dell’Orso contributed 19 points in just 18 minutes, shooting 75% from three and 66.7% overall. KJ Lewis was efficient as well, making 6 of 7 shots and grabbing 8 rebounds with 5 assists.
Southern Utah’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 102 points on 50% shooting from the field. They allowed 53% shooting on two-point attempts, with the opposing team hitting 28 of 52 shots.
From beyond the arc, Southern Utah’s opponents shot 37%, making 6 of 16 three-pointers. The Thunderbirds also sent their opponents to the line 36 times, where they converted 28 free throws for 77%. Southern Utah gave up 16 offensive rebounds in the game.
Will the Aggies Find a Way to Win at Home?
The Aggies dropped to 3-6 on the season after a 91-67 road loss to Texas on Thursday. Entering the game as +19.5 point underdogs, New Mexico State not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.
After trailing 52-27 at halftime, the Aggies showed some fight in the 2nd half, scoring 40 points while allowing 39. The game’s total points of 158 went over the pre-game O/U line of 142.5.
In their latest game, New Mexico State put up 67 points, shooting 44.6% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 50%. They hit 33.3% of their threes, going 6 for 18, and were solid at the line, making 11 of 13 free throws for 84.6%.
Christian Cook led the Aggies with 22 points, shooting 56.2% overall and 50% from deep. Arthur Kaluma added 18 points and 7 rebounds, hitting 61.5% from the field and 66.7% from three. Tramon Mark also grabbed 7 boards, scoring 14 points on 66.7% shooting, including 60% from beyond the arc.
New Mexico State’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 91 points on 58% shooting from the field. They allowed the opposing team to hit 28 of 41 two-point attempts, a 68% success rate.
From beyond the arc, the opposition shot 35%, making 6 of 17 threes. New Mexico State also sent them to the line 23 times, where they converted 17 free throws (73%). The Aggies gave up 10 offensive rebounds.