Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Dayton vs Cincinnati NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Cincinnati.
Dayton vs Cincinnati Prediction
Planning on watching today's Flyers and Bearcats game? Catch the action at Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, OH, as the Bearcats hosts this showdown at 8:30 ET on ESPNU. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 138.5 points, with Cincinnati being favored by -3.5 over Dayton.
Dayton vs. Cincinnati Matchup At A Glance
- Sport: NCAAB
- Teams: Dayton Flyers at Cincinnati Bearcats
- Where: Cincinnati at Heritage Bank Center
- Date: Friday, December 20th
- Betting Odds CIN -3.5, DAY +144 | CIN -174 O/U 138.5
Flyers Preview: Will Dayton Make it Happen on the Road?
Dayton improved to 9-2 on the season with a narrow 66-65 win over UNLV on Tuesday. The Flyers were -10.5 favorites at home but didn’t cover the spread, and the game’s total points of 131 fell under the 140.5 O/U line.
Dayton trailed 28-27 at halftime but outscored UNLV 39-37 in the second half to secure the win.
Flyers Offense Breakdown
Dayton's offense put up 66 points in their last game, shooting 47.1% from the field. They were efficient inside, hitting 63.3% of their two-point attempts, but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 23.8% of their threes (5/21).
At the free-throw line, the Flyers shot 81.2%, making 13 of 16 attempts. Julian Rishwain was a bright spot from deep, hitting 4 of 7 threes and finishing with 12 points. Dedan Thomas Jr. led the team with 16 points and 6 assists, despite shooting 5 of 14 from the field.
Flyers Team Defense
Dayton's defense gave up 65 points, with the opposing team shooting 47% from the field on 24 of 51 attempts. Inside the arc, they allowed 19 two-point baskets on 30 attempts, a 63% shooting rate.
From three-point range, Dayton held the other team to 5 made threes on 21 attempts, a 23% success rate. The Flyers also sent them to the free-throw line 16 times, where they made 13, shooting 81%. Dayton gave up 7 offensive rebounds.
Bearcats Preview: Will the Bearcats Come Through as Home Favorites?
Cincinnati improved to 8-1 on the season with a 68-65 win over Xavier on Saturday. The Bearcats, who were -8 favorites, didn’t cover the spread, but they did get the win. The game’s total points of 133 fell short of the O/U line of 146.5.
Cincinnati was down 31-30 at halftime but outscored Xavier 38-34 in the second half to secure the win. They’ll look to build on this victory as they move forward in the season.
Bearcats Offense Breakdown
Cincinnati's offense struggled in their last game, shooting just 37.9% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc, finishing with 68 points. Their effective field goal percentage was 41.4%, and they hit 19 of 26 free throws, good for 73.1%.
Zach Freemantle led the way with 18 points and 7 rebounds, while Ryan Conwell added 17 points, hitting 3 of 8 from deep. Dillon Mitchell contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Aziz Bandaogo was perfect from the field, going 4 for 4.
Bearcats Team Defense
Despite Cincinnati's strong defensive effort, they couldn't come away with the win, giving up 65 points while holding their opponent to 37% shooting from the field. The Bearcats limited damage from beyond the arc, allowing just 5 threes on 20 attempts, a 25% shooting performance.
Inside the arc, Cincinnati's defense gave up 17 two-point field goals on 38 attempts, a 44% success rate. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 26 times, where they converted 19 for 73%. The Bearcats allowed 12 offensive rebounds in the game.
Flyers vs Bearcats Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis
- When looking at their past three road matchups, Dayton has an ATS record of 2-1 while averaging 86 per game. The team went 1-2 overall in these games.
- Across their last five home contests, Cincinnati has a 3-2 record vs the spread. Their overall mark in these games was 2-3, while averaging 70 points per game.
- Looking back on the team's last three games as the underdog, the Flyers have a straight up record of 1-2. Their record vs the spread in these games was 3-0.
- Through their last five matchups as the betting favorite, the Bearcats have a good straight up record, but their ATS mark is just 1-4.
Dayton vs Cincinnati Prediction & Free Pick
- KnupSports.com Free Betting Prediction: Cincinnati -3.5 Be sure to check out our other NCAA Basketball betting previews for this week. KnupSports.com also updates their sports betting picks page daily with plays across all sports.