Youngstown State Penguins vs USC Upstate Spartans NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/21/24
Betting on today’s Penguins and Spartans game? Catch the action at Hodge Center in Spartanburg, SC, as the Spartans hosts this showdown at 1:00 ET on ESPN+. Youngstown State comes into this non-conference matchup as the -8.5 point favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 150.5 points.
YOUNGSTOWN STATE PENGUINS VS USC UPSTATE SPARTANS BETTING PICK
The Pick: USC Upstate Spartans +8.5
This game will be played at Hodge Center at 1:00 ET on Saturday, December 21st.
WHY BET THE USC UPSTATE SPARTANS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-68 in favor of the Spartans.
- Not only will USC Upstate pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +8.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 150.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.
Do the Penguins Stand a Chance on the Road?
Youngstown State Penguins Recent Game/Games
Youngstown State improved to 6-5 on the season with an 80-70 road win over Wright State on Wednesday. The Penguins entered the game as +7 underdogs and not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.
After trailing 40-35 at halftime, Youngstown State turned things around by outscoring Wright State 45-30 in the second half. The game’s total points of 150 went over the pre-game O/U line of 143.5.
Youngstown State put up 80 points in their latest game, shooting 44.4% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 52.4%. They hit 33.3% from beyond the arc, connecting on 10 of 30 attempts, while shooting 54.5% on two-pointers.
Jack Doumbia led the Penguins with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Ty Harper added 16 points, hitting 3 of 6 from deep. Alex Huibregtse and Jason Nelson each contributed 15 points, with Nelson also dishing out 4 assists.
Youngstown State’s defense gave up 70 points, allowing their opponent to shoot 47% from the field on 26 of 55 attempts. Inside the arc, they conceded 16 of 31 shots, with a 51% success rate.
From three-point range, the Penguins allowed 10 made threes on 24 attempts, a 41% shooting performance. Their opponent also went 8 for 15 from the free-throw line, hitting 53% of their foul shots. Youngstown State gave up 7 offensive rebounds.
Are USC Upstate Ready for a Home Win?
USC Upstate’s season struggles continued with an 85-70 loss to South Carolina State on Wednesday, dropping their record to 1-10. The Spartans were +2.5 point underdogs going into the game and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 155, just over the 153.5 O/U line.
After trailing 40-34 at halftime, USC Upstate allowed 45 points in the second half while scoring 36. Their defense continues to be a concern as they look to turn things around this season.
USC Upstate’s offense put up 70 points in their last game, shooting 43.8% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 45.8%, with a two-point shooting mark of 51.4% (18/35). From beyond the arc, they struggled, hitting just 3 of 13 attempts for 23.1%.
At the free-throw line, the Spartans connected on 25 of 41 attempts, shooting 61%. Carmelo Adkins led the team with 21 points, while Mister Dean added 17. Drayton Jones contributed 14 points, and Davion Everett, Omar Croskey, Mitchell Taylor, and Wilson Dubinsky each chipped in 12 points.
USC Upstate’s defense struggled, giving up 85 points despite holding the opponent to 43% shooting from the field. They allowed 51% shooting on two-pointers, with the other team hitting 18 of 35 shots.
From beyond the arc, USC Upstate limited the damage, as the opponent shot just 23%, making 3 of 13 attempts. However, they sent the other team to the line 41 times, where they converted 25 free throws (61%). USC Upstate also gave up 9 offensive rebounds.