Youngstown State Penguins vs Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/4/25
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Penguins and Mastodons. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Mastodons at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, IN. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this Horizon League conference contest is set at 148.5 points, with Purdue Fort Wayne being favored by -4.5 at home against Youngstown State.
YOUNGSTOWN STATE PENGUINS VS PURDUE FORT WAYNE MASTODONS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Youngstown State Penguins +4.5
This game will be played at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum at 7:00 ET on Saturday, January 4th.
WHY BET THE YOUNGSTOWN STATE PENGUINS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-72 in favor of the Mastodons.
- Even though we have Purdue Fort Wayne winning straight-up, we like Youngstown State at +4.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 148.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.
Do the Penguins Stand a Chance in Fort Wayne?
Youngstown State Penguins Recent Game/Games
Youngstown State improved to 9-5 on the season with a 77-61 road win over the Jaguars on January 1st. The Penguins entered the game as -5.5 favorites and covered the spread.
Youngstown State led 45-35 at halftime and held the Jaguars to 26 points in the 2nd half while scoring 32. The game’s total points of 138 fell just under the 139.5 O/U line.
Youngstown State’s offense put up 77 points in their last game, shooting 42.9% from the field. They were particularly effective from beyond the arc, hitting 12 of 25 threes for 48%, contributing to an effective field goal percentage of 55.1%. At the line, they connected on 82.1% of their free throws, going 23 for 28.
EJ Farmer led the way with 26 points, knocking down 5 of 12 threes. Paul Zilinskas added 19 points, hitting 3 of 7 from deep. Siem Uijtendaal was a standout, hitting 4 of 5 threes and finishing with 14 points in just 16 minutes. Jarvis Walker struggled, shooting 3 of 17 overall and missing all 4 of his three-point attempts.
Youngstown State’s defense was impressive, holding their opponent to just 61 points on 30% shooting from the field. They limited two-point opportunities, with the opposing team hitting only 12 of 36 shots for 33%.
From beyond the arc, Youngstown State’s defense allowed 7 threes on 26 attempts, a 26% success rate. They also sent their opponent to the line 23 times, where they made 16 free throws, shooting 69%. The Penguins gave up 15 offensive rebounds.
Will Purdue Fort Wayne Pull Through as the Favored Home Team?
Purdue Fort Wayne fell to 8-6 on the season after a narrow 69-68 loss to Northern Kentucky on Wednesday. The Mastodons were +2.5 point underdogs heading into the game and managed to cover the spread. The total points for the game came in at 137, under the O/U line of 143.5.
Purdue Fort Wayne led 36-30 at halftime but struggled in the second half, scoring just 26 points while allowing 32.
Purdue Fort Wayne’s offense put up 68 points in their last game, shooting 40% from the field. They connected on 13 of 37 three-point attempts, hitting 35.1% from deep, and were perfect from the free-throw line, going 7 for 7.
Trey Robinson led the way with 26 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 5 for 10 from three-point range. Quinton Morton-Robertson added 19 points, hitting 4 of 8 from beyond the arc, while Jalen Jackson contributed 17 points despite shooting just 1 for 5 from three.
Purdue Fort Wayne’s defense gave up 69 points, holding their opponent to 39% shooting from the field. They limited two-point attempts effectively, with their opponent making just 9 of 24 shots inside the arc, shooting 37%.
From three-point range, Purdue Fort Wayne allowed 14 threes on 34 attempts, with their opponent shooting 41%. They also sent them to the line 14 times, where they hit 9 free throws, shooting 64%. Purdue Fort Wayne allowed 13 offensive rebounds.