UT Arlington Mavericks vs Liberty Flames NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/21/24
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Mavericks and Flames. The game is starting at 2:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Flames at Liberty Arena in Lynchburg, VA. Get ready to place your bets! This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 143.5 points, and Liberty is favored by -9.5 vs. UT Arlington.
UT ARLINGTON MAVERICKS VS LIBERTY FLAMES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Liberty Flames -9.5
This game will be played at Liberty Arena at 2:00 ET on Saturday, December 21st.
WHY BET THE LIBERTY FLAMES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 81-67 in favor of the Flames.
- Not only will Liberty pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -9.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 143.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 148 points.
Can the Mavericks Offense Score Enough on the Road?
UT Arlington improved to 4-6 on the season with a dominant 80-54 home win over Evansville on Wednesday. The Mavericks, who were favored by 9.5 points, not only secured the victory but also covered the spread. The game’s total points of 134 fell short of the 150.5 O/U line.
UT Arlington took control early, leading 44-24 at halftime. They maintained their advantage in the 2nd half, outscoring Evansville 36-30.
UT Arlington put up 80 points in their last game, despite shooting just 38.9% from the field. They connected on 11 of 30 three-point attempts, good for 36.7%, and hit 27 of 36 free throws, shooting 75% from the line. Their effective field goal percentage was 48.1%.
The Mavericks dominated the offensive glass with 22 rebounds, and Tayshawn Comer led the way with 20 points and 4 assists. Diante Smith added 18 points, hitting 4 of 7 from deep, and Lance Ware contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Even with UT Arlington’s defense holding their opponent to 54 points, the Mavericks couldn’t come out on top. They limited the opposition to 38% shooting overall, including 41% from two-point range, where they hit 10 of 24 attempts.
From beyond the arc, UT Arlington allowed 11 threes on 30 attempts, a 36% shooting rate. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 36 times, where they converted 27, shooting 75%. The Mavericks gave up 22 offensive rebounds.
Taking a Look at the Flames Chances at Home
Liberty Flames Recent Game/Games
Liberty improved to 8-1 on the season with an 83-74 home win over North Carolina A&T on Saturday, December 14th. The Flames were -20 favorites going into the game but didn’t cover the spread.
Liberty led 39-37 at halftime and outscored the Aggies 44-37 in the second half. The combined points of 157 went over the pre-game O/U line of 142.5.
Liberty’s offense put up 83 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field and posting an effective field goal percentage of 56.1%. They connected on 58.1% of their two-point attempts and 34.8% from beyond the arc, hitting 8 threes on 23 attempts. At the free-throw line, they went 9-for-15, shooting 60%.
Owen Aquino led the way with 28 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 60% from the field and hitting 2 of 3 from three-point range. Ryan Forrest added 21 points, knocking down 4 of 6 from deep. Liberty dished out 21 assists as a team, with Zach Cleveland contributing 7 assists to go along with his 12 points.
Liberty’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 74 points on 50% shooting from the field. The Flames allowed their opponent to connect on 33 of 66 shots.
Inside the arc, Liberty’s defense gave up 25 buckets on 43 attempts, a 58% success rate. From three-point range, their opponent hit 8 of 23 shots, shooting 34%. Liberty also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 15 times, where they made 9 of their attempts.