Baylor Bears vs Norfolk State Spartans Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Norfolk State vs Baylor NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Waco.

Norfolk State vs Baylor Prediction

Looking to win big? The Spartans and Bears face off at 12:00 ET on ESPN+. The Bears are hosting the game at Foster Pavilion in Waco, TX. The over/under for this game is set at 142.5 points, and Baylor is favored by -25.5 against Norfolk State in a non-conference matchup.

Norfolk State vs. Baylor Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Norfolk State Spartans at Baylor Bears
Where: Waco at Foster Pavilion
Date: Wednesday, December 11th
Betting Odds BAYL -25.5, NORFST +3500 | BAYL -20000 O/U 142.5

Spartans Preview: Will Norfolk State Shock Everyone at Foster Pavilion?

Norfolk State dropped to 4-4 on the season after an 80-67 loss to Hofstra on Monday. The Spartans, who were -4.5 favorites, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points reached 147, surpassing the O/U line of 133.

Norfolk State trailed 37-31 at halftime and couldn’t close the gap, being outscored 43-36 in the second half.

Spartans Offense Breakdown

Norfolk State's offense struggled in their last game, shooting just 38.8% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 44.9%, and they managed only 6 offensive rebounds.

Despite their shooting woes, the Spartans excelled at the free-throw line, hitting 24 of 26 attempts for a 92.3% success rate. Cruz Davis and KiJan Robinson each scored 20 points, with Davis hitting 5 of 6 threes and Robinson connecting on 4 of 9 from deep.

Spartans Team Defense

Despite Norfolk State's solid defensive effort, holding their opponent to 38% shooting overall and just 33% from three-point range, they still gave up 80 points. The Spartans allowed 14 two-point field goals on 34 attempts, a 41% shooting rate.

Norfolk State's defense struggled with fouls, sending their opponent to the free-throw line 26 times, where they converted 92% of their attempts. The Spartans also gave up 6 offensive rebounds in the game.

Bears Preview: Does Baylor Have What it Takes to Win as Home Favorites?

The Bears improved to 6-3 on the season with an 88-57 win over Abilene Christian on Monday. Baylor, playing at home, entered the game as -24.5 favorites and covered the spread. The total points for the game were 145, surpassing the O/U line of 141.5.

Baylor took control early, leading 46-22 at halftime. In the 2nd half, they added 42 points while allowing 35.

Bears Offense Breakdown

Baylor's offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 88 points with a field goal percentage of 59.3%. Their effective field goal percentage was even more impressive at 66.1%, thanks to 65.9% shooting on two-pointers and 44.4% from beyond the arc.

Jayden Nunn hit all 4 of his three-point attempts, finishing with 18 points and 4 assists. Norchad Omier was perfect from the field, going 7-for-7 in just 16 minutes of play, contributing 15 points and 6 rebounds.

Bears Team Defense

Despite giving up 57 points, Baylor's defense struggled, allowing their opponent to shoot 59% from the field. This included 65% shooting on two-point attempts, where they went 27/41.

From beyond the arc, Baylor's opponent hit 8 of 18 threes, shooting 44%. They also sent them to the line 16 times, where they made 10 free throws, shooting 62%.

Spartans vs Bears Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Across their last three road contests, Norfolk State has been good against the spread posting a mark of 3-0. Their overall mark in these games was 2-1, while averaging 75 points per game.
Through their last three home games, Baylor has an ATS record of just 0-3. However, their overall record was 1-2 while averaging 77 points per game.
Spanning across their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Spartans have gone 7-3 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 5-5.
Going back to their last ten games as the favorite, the Bears have a straight up record of 9-1. But, their mark vs the spread was just 7-3.