Youngstown State Penguins vs Western Michigan Broncos Betting Pick & Prediction 12/9/23

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Penguins and Broncos. The game is starting at 1:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Broncos at University Arena (MI) in Kalamazoo, MI. Get ready to place your bets! In this non-conference matchup, the Penguins are the betting favorite against the Broncos. The over/under for the game is 144.5 points.

YOUNGSTOWN STATE PENGUINS VS WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Western Michigan Broncos +5.5

This game will be played at University Arena (MI) at 1:00 ET on Saturday, December 9th.

WHY BET THE WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-68 in favor of the Broncos.
• Not only will Western Michigan pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +5.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 144.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 142 points.

Can Youngstown State Grab a Win on the Road?

After defeating Robert Morris 71-57 in their previous game, Youngstown State’s record now stands at 6-3. If they win today, Youngstown State will have the opportunity to even out their road record, which currently sits at 2-3. As Youngstown State enters today’s game, their ATS record stands at 5-2. In their previous five games, they have been an impressive 4-0 vs. the spread.

Youngstown State comes in with an over/under record of 3-4-0 through nine games, with their games averaging a combined 145.4 points per game so far. The Penguins’ last five games have culminated with an average of 144 points per game and an over/under record of 2-2.

The Youngstown State offense is coming off a game in which they scored 71 points vs. Robert Morris. Overall their field goal percentage was 42.2% while connecting on 10 threes. The team’s top scorer is Brandon Rush, who comes into today’s matchup with an average of 13.8, while Ziggy Reid also maintains a PPG average of 11 leading up to the game.

Currently, the Penguins’ defense holds the 127th rank in the nation, allowing 70.4 points per game. In today’s game, the Youngstown State defense will be looking to once again do a good job defending the three-point line, as they gave up just 4 three-pointers while giving up 57 points.

Will the Broncos Make it Happen at Home?

This will be Western Michigan’s 9th game of the season, facing off against Youngstown State. They currently have a 2-6 record. As the away team, the Broncos are 0-3, while they are 2-3 at home. As of today’s game, Western Michigan holds a 4-4 ATS record. Looking at their performance in the last five games, they are 3-2 vs. the spread.

After eight games, Western Michigan has an over/under record of 3-5-0, with their games averaging a combined 136.8 points per game so far. In the Broncos’ last five games, the combined scoring average stands at 133 points per game, accompanied by an over/under record of 2-3.

In their most recent game, the Western Michigan offense put up just 51 points vs. the St. Thomas (MN) Tommies. Overall, they are now averaging 64.6 points per game which is 406th in the country. In terms of offense, the Broncos have a season-long field goal percentage of 43%, putting them 277th in the NCAA. Regarding three-pointers, they are ranked 156th in percentage and 165th in three-pointers made.

At present, the Broncos’ defense is nationally ranked 124th, allowing 70.3 points per game. The Western Michigan defense is coming off a game in which they gave up a total of 65 points and allowed St. Thomas (MN) to connect on 2 threes.