Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles vs Western Illinois Leathernecks NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/17/24

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Golden Eagles and Leathernecks. The game is starting at 8:30 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Leathernecks at Western Hall in Macomb, IL. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this Ohio Valley conference contest is set at 138 points, with Western Illinois being favored by -1.5 at home against Tennessee Tech.

TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES VS WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Western Illinois Leathernecks -1.5

This game will be played at Western Hall at 8:30 ET on Tuesday, December 17th.

WHY BET THE WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-71 in favor of the Leathernecks.
• Not only will Western Illinois pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -1.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 138 points, and we like the over with a projected 148 points.

Do the Golden Eagles Stand a Chance on the Road?

Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles Recent Game

Tennessee Tech fell to 3-6 on the season after a 78-73 loss to West Georgia on Saturday. The Golden Eagles, who were -3 favorites, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 151, surpassing the over/under line of 140.5.

After trailing 49-32 at halftime, Tennessee Tech made a strong push in the second half, outscoring West Georgia 41-29, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.

Tennessee Tech’s offense put up 73 points in their last game, shooting 48.1% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 55.8%. They connected on 60.7% of their two-point attempts, while hitting 33.3% from beyond the arc, going 8-for-24 from three-point range. At the free-throw line, they converted 75%, making 15 of 20 attempts.

Shelton Williams-Dryden led the way with 19 points and 6 assists, shooting 57.1% from the field. Rodney Johnson Jr. added 17 points and 7 rebounds, hitting 70% of his shots. Kyle Layton was efficient from deep, making 3 of 4 threes, finishing with 11 points on 80% shooting overall.

The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles gave up 78 points in their last game, allowing their opponent to shoot 50% from the field, including 57% on two-point attempts with 22 makes on 38 shots.

From beyond the arc, Tennessee Tech’s defense allowed 7 threes on 20 attempts, a 35% shooting rate. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 16 times, where they converted 13 free throws for 81%.

Do the Leathernecks Have What it Takes at Home?

Western Illinois Leathernecks Recent Game/Games

Western Illinois fell to 3-5 on the season after an 89-66 road loss to South Dakota on Saturday. Entering the game as +9.5 point underdogs, the Leathernecks failed to cover the spread.

They trailed 53-31 at halftime and couldn’t mount a comeback, scoring 35 points in the 2nd half while allowing 36. The game’s total points of 155 went over the pregame line of 152.5.

Western Illinois struggled from inside the arc in their last game, shooting just 32.7% on two-point attempts. Overall, they hit 38.2% from the field, with an effective field goal percentage of 45.6%. Their three-point shooting was a bright spot, as they connected on 52.6% of their attempts, going 10-for-19 from deep.

Marko Maletic led the way from beyond the arc, hitting 6-of-8 threes and finishing with 24 points. Chase Forte added 21 points and 5 assists, while Cameron Fens contributed 17 points and 6 rebounds. The Leathernecks managed just 8 assists as a team, but grabbed 14 offensive rebounds.

Western Illinois struggled defensively, giving up 89 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 51% from the field. Inside the arc, they conceded 23 of 41 shots, with a 56% shooting percentage.

From three-point range, Western Illinois allowed 6 threes on 15 attempts, a 40% success rate. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 36 times, where they converted 25 free throws, shooting 69%. Western Illinois gave up 15 offensive rebounds.