Western Illinois Leathernecks vs Central Arkansas Bears Betting Pick & Prediction 12/20/23

Looking to win big? The Leathernecks and Bears face off at 1:00 ET on ESPN+. The Bears are hosting the game at Farris Center in Conway, AR. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 143.5 points, with the Bears being the favored team playing at home against the Leathernecks.

WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS VS CENTRAL ARKANSAS BEARS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Central Arkansas Bears -1

This game will be played at Farris Center at 1:00 ET on Wednesday, December 20th.

WHY BET THE CENTRAL ARKANSAS BEARS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-68 in favor of the Bears.
• Not only will Central Arkansas pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -1.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 143.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 145 points.

Can the Leathernecks Grab a Win in Conway?

After defeating Green Bay by a score of 68-59, Western Illinois has improved to a 6-6 overall record. So far this season, Western Illinois has gone 1-5 on the road and 1-0 at home. Western Illinois has a below .500 ATS record of 3-4. When examining their performance in the last five games, they are 1-1 vs. the spread.

Looking at their over/under performance through 12 games, Western Illinois has an over/under record of 2-5-0, with their games averaging 139.9 points per game on average. The Leathernecks’ last five games have finished with a combined 136 points per game and an over/under record of 0-2.

In their recent matchup, the Western Illinois offense ended with 68 points against Green Bay. They finished with an overall field goal percentage of 56% and made 5 threes. James Dent Jr. is currently the leading scorer for the team, entering today’s matchup with an average of 14.7. Meanwhile, Ryan Myers also brings a PPG average of 12.5 into the game.

So far, the Leathernecks’ defense is ranked 117th in the country at 69.0 points per contest. Western Illinois will look once again to perform well on defense, holding Green Bay to just 35% shooting in their most recent game.

Will Central Arkansas Come Through as Home Favorites?

Today, Central Arkansas, who have a record of 3-9, will be playing against Western Illinois. In their previous ten games at home, Central Arkansas have a 3-7 record, which includes last season. Central Arkansas is currently performing well against the spread, sitting at 5-4-1. At home, they have a 1-1-1 ATS record this season and are 3-5-1 ATS in their last ten home games.

Central Arkansas comes in with an over/under record of 4-5-1 through 12 games, with their games averaging a combined 149.6 points per game so far. In the Bears’ last five games, the combined scoring average stands at 153 points per game, accompanied by an over/under record of 2-2-1.

In their previous game, the Bears’ offense finished with 73 points, which is right in line with their current average of 70.4 points per contest. In terms of offense, the Bears have a season-long field goal percentage of 40%, putting them 366th in the NCAA. Regarding three-pointers, they are ranked 124th in percentage and 91st in three-pointers made.

At this time, the Bears’ defense is positioned 225th in the country, permitting 75.3 points per game. So far, the Central Arkansas defense is giving up an average of 9.2 offensive rebounds per game and are turning teams over 12.8 times per game (582nd).