Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Purple Eagles and Mountaineers. The game is starting at 2:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Mountaineers at Knott Arena in Emmitsburg, MD. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this Metro Atlantic Athletic conference contest is set at 146.5 points, with the Mountaineers being the favored team playing at home against the Purple Eagles.

NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES VS MOUNT ST. MARY’S MOUNTAINEERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers -5.5

This game will be played at Knott Arena at 2:00 ET on Sunday, January 21st.

WHY BET THE MOUNT ST. MARY’S MOUNTAINEERS:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-69 in favor of the Mountaineers.
  • Not only will Mount St. Mary’s pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -5.5.
  • The over/under is currently sitting at 146.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 145 points.

Can the Purple Eagles Pull Out the Win as Road Underdogs?

Coming into their matchup with Mount St. Mary’s, Niagara is an underdog with a record of 8-9. So far, the Purple Eagles have gone 4-3 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and 4-6 in non-conference play.

On the road, Niagara has gone 5-4 this season, and they have a road average scoring margin of -1.0. They have won their last four games away from home and have gone 5-5 in their last 10 road games.

As the underdog this season, Niagara has an impressive ATS record of 7-2. On the road, the Purple Eagles are a perfect 3-0 vs. the spread in their last 3 games and 9-1 in their last 10. Overall, Niagara’s ATS mark is 10-6.

Niagara’s over/under record this season is 12-3-1, including a perfect 3-0 mark in their last three games. So far, their games have averaged 149.8 points, which is 12.2 points higher than the average over/under line of 137.7. Today’s line of 146.5 is higher than the scoring average of their games. This year, nine of their games have finished with more points than today’s line.

In their previous game, the Purple Eagles’ offense finished with 78 points, which is right in line with their current average of 76.1 points per contest. For the season, the Niagara offense has been one of the more efficient shooting teams in the NCAA with a field goal percentage of 47%. So far, they have hit 51% of their looks from inside the arc, and are averaging 6.8 made three’s per contest.

Currently, the Purple Eagles’ defense holds the 232nd rank in the nation, allowing 75.4 points per game. Niagara’s three-point defense is currently 46th in the country at 5.6 made threes per game. In terms of overall field goal percentage, opponets have hit 46.4% of their shots vs. Niagara.

Will Mount St. Mary’s Secure A Victory as Home Favorites?

Mount St. Mary’s has been a completely different team at home compared to on the road this season. They come into this game with a 5-1 record at home, compared to just 2-9 on the road. Their average scoring margin at home is +15.3, while it is -5.3 on the road. They have won four straight games at home.

Overall, the Mountaineers are 7-10 this season, including a 3-3 mark in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. They are 7-2 when favored and have been the favorite in nine of their 17 games.

Mount St. Mary’s has a .500 ATS record this season at 8-8-1, but they have been better vs. the spread at home, going 4-2. Over their last three home games, the Mountaineers are a perfect 3-0 vs. the spread and they have gone 5-5 in their last 10 games as the favorite.

Today’s over/under line of 146.5 is higher than the average over/under line in Mount St. Mary’s games this year (136.8). So far, 11 of their games have finished with more points than today’s OU line. Over their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1 and their average scoring total in those games is 134 points.

Most recently, the Mount St. Mary’s offense finished with just 65 points vs. Marist. For the game, they hit 11/25 three-point attempts and a field goal percentage of 44.4%. The top scorer for the Mountaineers was Dakota Leffew with 21 points, while Deshayne Montgomery also added 11 to the scoreboard.

At this time, the Mountaineers’ defense is positioned 129th in the country, permitting 70.5 points per game. Mount St. Mary’s’ three-point defense is currently 51st in the country at 5.8 made threes per game. In terms of overall field goal percentage, opponets have hit 42.9% of their shots vs. Mount St. Mary’s.