Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Jacksonville State Gamecocks Betting Pick & Prediction 2/10/24
The Hilltoppers and Gamecocks are set to face off at 5:00 ET on ESPN+. The Gamecocks will host the game at Pete Mathews Coliseum in Jacksonville, AL. The over/under for this game is set at 148.5 points, and Jacksonville State is favored by -2 vs. Western Kentucky in a Conference USA conference matchup.
WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS VS JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Jacksonville State Gamecocks -2
This game will be played at Pete Mathews Coliseum at 5:00 ET on Saturday, February 10th.
WHY BET THE JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-70 in favor of the Gamecocks.
- Not only will Jacksonville State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -2.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 148.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 145 points.
Can the Hilltoppers Offense Score Enough in Jacksonville?
Western Kentucky enters this game with a record of 16-7 and a two-game win streak. They are 5-4 in Conference USA games and 11-3 in non-conference matchups. On the road, the Hilltoppers are 6-4 this season, and their average scoring margin is +2.2.
So far this season, Western Kentucky has been the underdog in nine of their 23 games, and their record in those matchups is 5-4. In their most recent game, they defeated Louisiana Tech by a score of 81-76. Over their last 10 road games, the Hilltoppers have gone 6-4.
As the underdog, Western Kentucky has a solid ATS record of 6-3 this season. On the road, the Hilltoppers have gone 7-3 vs. the spread this year and they are 12-8 overall. Over their last 10 road games, Western Kentucky has an ATS mark of 7-3.
Western Kentucky’s over/under record for the season is 9-11 and the average scoring total in their games is 153.8. Today’s over/under line is 148.5. So far, 11 of their games have finished with more points than today’s line. In their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1 with an average scoring total of 155 points.
In their recent game, the Hilltoppers’ offense concluded with 81 points, consistent with their ongoing season average of 80.7 points per contest. The top scorer for the Hilltoppers was Donald McHenry with 20 points, while Rodney Howard also added 18 to the scoreboard.
At this time, the Hilltoppers’ defense is positioned 239th in the country, permitting 74.9 points per game. Western Kentucky will look once again to perform well on defense, holding Louisiana Tech to just 41% shooting in their most recent game.
Will Jacksonville State Secure A Victory as Home Favorites?
The Gamecocks will be hoping to extend their two-game winning streak at home, where they have gone 6-4 this season. For the year, Jacksonville State is 12-12, including a 4-5 mark in conference play.
So far, Jacksonville State has been favored in nine of their 24 games, going 6-3 in those contests. At home, they have gone 7-3 over their last ten games.
As the favorite this season, Jacksonville State has gone 5-4 vs. the spread. Their overall ATS mark is 11-10-1, and at home, they are 5-5.
Today’s over/under line of 148.5 is higher than the average over/under line in Jacksonville State’s games this year (134.7). Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 142 points compared to a season average of 133.3 points per game. So far this year, their over/under record is 9-13.
Jacksonville State recently showcased a strong offensive performance, scoring 79 points against Sam Houston State. This output exceeded their season average of 70.9 points per game. The top scorer for the Gamecocks was Kyky Tandy with 19 points, while Juwan Perdue also chipped in with 15 points.
Jacksonville State’s defense has been playing well, ranking 30th nationally, with 64.8 points allowed per game. On average, opposing teams are hitting 5.7 threes per game vs. Western Kentucky. This has come on three-point shooting percentage of 28.7%.