Toledo Rockets vs Youngstown State Penguins NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/14/24
Looking to win big? The Rockets and Penguins face off at 1:00 ET on ESPN+. The Penguins are hosting the game at Beeghly Center in Youngstown, OH. The over/under for this game is set at 148 points, and Youngstown State is favored by -2.5 against Toledo in a non-conference matchup.
TOLEDO ROCKETS VS YOUNGSTOWN STATE PENGUINS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Youngstown State Penguins -2.5
This game will be played at Beeghly Center at 1:00 ET on Saturday, December 14th.
WHY BET THE YOUNGSTOWN STATE PENGUINS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-69 in favor of the Penguins.
- Not only will Youngstown State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -2.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 148 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.
Can Toledo Lock in a Road Win?
Toledo Rockets Recent Game/Games
Toledo’s season record dropped to 5-3 after a tough 85-52 loss to Oakland on Saturday. The Rockets, who were -8.5 favorites, not only lost but failed to cover the spread. The combined 137 points in the game fell short of the 146.5 O/U line.
Toledo trailed 34-23 at halftime and struggled in the 2nd half, scoring 29 points while allowing 51. They’ll need to regroup after this disappointing home performance.
Toledo struggled offensively in their last game, scoring just 52 points with a field goal percentage of 38.2% (21/55). Their effective field goal percentage was 40%, and they hit only 3 of 16 from beyond the arc, shooting 18.8% from three.
Free-throw shooting was also an issue, as they connected on just 7 of 17 attempts (41.2%). On the glass, they grabbed 7 offensive rebounds and dished out 12 assists.
Even with a strong defensive effort, Toledo allowed 85 points in their last game. They held the opposing team to 38% shooting overall, with 21 made field goals on 55 attempts.
Toledo’s defense limited the team’s three-point shooting, allowing just 3 made threes on 16 attempts (18%). They also sent the team to the free-throw line 17 times, where they made 7 free throws (41%).
Can the Penguins Deliver Being Favored at Home?
Youngstown State Penguins Recent Game/Games
Youngstown State improved to 4-5 on the season with a 66-50 win over Oakland on Saturday. The Penguins, who were -2.5 point favorites, covered the spread in the home victory.
Youngstown State led 32-23 at halftime and continued their strong play in the second half, outscoring Oakland 34-27. The game’s total points of 116 fell short of the O/U line of 132.5.
Youngstown State put up 66 points in their last game, shooting 44.2% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 51.9%. They hit 60% of their two-point attempts, but struggled from deep, connecting on just 29.6% of their threes (8/27). At the free-throw line, they were efficient, making 12 of 14 attempts for 85.7%.
EJ Farmer led the way with 22 points, hitting 5 of 8 from three-point range. Allen Mukeba added 17 points, while Nico Galette contributed 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Penguins recorded 14 assists as a team, with 9 offensive rebounds.
Youngstown State’s defense held their opponent to just 50 points, despite allowing them to shoot 44% from the field. The Penguins gave up 15 two-point baskets on 25 attempts, a 60% shooting rate.
From beyond the arc, Youngstown State limited their opponent to 8 threes on 27 attempts, a 29% success rate. They also sent them to the free-throw line 14 times, where they converted 12 for 85%.