NJIT Highlanders vs Vermont Catamounts Prediction, 12/27/2020 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: NJIT Highlanders vs Vermont Catamounts

Date: Sunday, December 27, 2020

Location: Patrick Gymnasium in Burlington, VT

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: NJIT (+11)

The Vermont Catamounts (1-1) play the NJIT Highlanders (1-1) at Patrick Gymnasium on Sunday. Vermont opens this game as 11-point favorites. The total is set at 132.5.

NJIT enters this matchup with a win-loss record of 1-1 on the campaign. The Highlanders are connecting on 39.5% on shots from distance (15 of 38) and 71.4% from the free throw line. They average 70.5 points per outing (218th in the nation) while connecting on 41.0% from the field. They are turning it over 11.0 times per game and as a squad they are committing 20.0 fouls per contest. As a unit, NJIT is pulling down 32.0 rebounds per contest and has accumulated 20 dimes so far this year, which is 331st in college basketball in terms of passing the rock. When they are on the defensive end, the Highlanders are able to force 15.5 turnovers per contest and they draw 23.5 personal fouls. The Highlanders are giving up an opponent shooting percentage of 38.1% (48 of 126) and they surrender 46.0 rebounds per game as a group. They are 16th in college basketball in allowing assists to the opposition with 29 relinquished on the season. They concede 33.3% on 3-point attempts and they are 158th in college hoops in points per game allowed (69.0).

The NJIT Highlanders faced the Rider Broncs and went home with a win by a final score of 81-66 in their last game. NJIT ended the game having earned a 50.0% field goal percentage (25 of 50) and buried 10 of 20 three-point shots. At the charity stripe, the Highlanders converted 21 of 30 attempts for a rate of 70.0%. With regard to getting rebounds, they earned 29 with 6 of them being of the offensive variety. They also distributed 10 assists for the contest while getting 9 steals and 2 rejections. In terms of defense, NJIT allowed 50.0% from the field on 25 of 50 shooting. Rider dished out 13 dimes and had 3 steals in the matchup. In addition, the Broncs collected 41 rebounds (19 offensive, 22 defensive) and added 2 rejections. Rider finished the contest at 80.0% from the charity stripe by converting 8 of their 10 tries. They also buried 6 out of their 16 attempts from downtown.

Zach Cooks is someone who was a major factor for the game. He ended up with 17 points on 5 out of 10 shooting. He played 35 mins and also grabbed 7 boards. Cooks finished the game shooting 50.0% from the field and distributed 2 assists. Another guy that had an impact in this game for the Highlanders was Antwuan Butler. He totaled 4 rebounds and also tallied 3 dimes. He went 42.9% from the field in this matchup by going 3-of-7 (9 points). When this game wrapped up, Butler played for 33 min.

Vermont has a win-loss record of 1-1 on the campaign. As an offensive team, the Catamounts are shooting 38.1% from the field, which ranks them 333rd in the nation. Vermont has 127 pts this season (63.5 per game) and they grab 31.5 rebounds per game. They are earning an assist 7.5 times per game (333rd in the nation) and they are turning it over 13.5 times per game. The Catamounts commit 19.0 personal fouls per game and they hit 72.5% from the free throw line. The Catamounts on the defensive side of the court are 59th in college hoops in points allowed per contest with 63.0. They are forcing their opponents into 18.0 TO's every game and allow teams to shoot 44.7% from the floor (242nd in D-1). The Vermont defense allows 43.9% on 3-point shots (18 of 41) and their opposition knocks down 64.9% of their free throw shots. They surrender 11.5 dimes and 29.5 boards on a nightly basis, which ranks 98th and 30th in those categories.

When they last stepped on the hardwood, the Vermont Catamounts took home the win by a final score of 62-53 against the UMass Lowell River Hawks. The Catamounts were able to corral 20 defensive rebounds and 7 offensive rebounds for a total of 27 for the game. They turned away 2 shots while getting 4 steals for the matchup. The River Hawks were called for 29 personal fouls in this game which got the Catamounts to the free throw line for 26 shots. They were able to bury 22 of the free throws for a percentage of 84.6%. Regarding 3-pointers, Vermont made 2 out of their 17 attempts (11.8%). Overall, the Catamounts finished the game shooting 19 out of 54 from the field which gave them a rate of 35.2%. The Catamounts allowed the River Hawks to make 19 out of 46 tries from the field which gave them a rate of 41.3% for the contest. They went 38.9% from distance via 7 of 18 and ended up shooting 8 out of 12 at the free throw line (66.7%). In relation to rebounding, Vermont permitted UMass Lowell to collect 30 in all (4 on the offensive side).

Stef Smith was important for the Catamounts in the matchup. He converted 3 out of 7 in this contest giving him a rate of 42.9%, which gave him 10 points. Smith snagged 3 boards in his 19 minutes and had 2 dimes for the game. One more player that ended up playing a role for Vermont was Ben Shungu. He ended up finishing with 12 points in his 36 minutes on the court by way of 2 of 5 shooting for this game. Shungu ended the game having shot 40.0% from the floor while also contributing 2 assists and 6 total rebounds.

Who will win tonight's college basketball game against the spread?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take NJIT (+11)

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