Indiana Hoosiers vs Penn State Nittany Lions Matchup

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

Indiana vs Penn State Prediction

Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Hoosiers and Nittany Lions. The game is starting at 12:00 ET on BTN, and it's hosted by the Nittany Lions at The Palestra in Philadelphia, PA. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this Big Ten conference contest is set at 156.5 points, with Penn State being favored by -6.5 at home against Indiana.

Indiana vs. Penn State Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Indiana Hoosiers at Penn State Nittany Lions
Where: Philadelphia at The Palestra
Date: Sunday, January 5th
Betting Odds PENNST -6.5, IND +214 | PENNST -269 O/U 156.5

Hoosiers Preview: Can the Hoosiers Offense Score Enough on the Road?

Indiana improved to 11-3 after an 84-74 win over Rutgers on Thursday. The Hoosiers were favored by 7.5 points and covered the spread at home. The total points for the game reached 158, surpassing the O/U line of 153.5.

Indiana led 41-34 at halftime and added 43 points in the 2nd half, while allowing 40 points to Rutgers after the break.

Hoosiers Offense Breakdown

Indiana managed to put up 84 points in their last game, despite shooting just 38.9% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 47.2%, thanks in part to hitting 44.4% of their threes, going 12-for-27 from deep.

Ace Bailey led the way with 39 points, shooting 55.2% overall and 50% from three. Myles Rice added 21 points, while Oumar Ballo contributed 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Hoosiers Team Defense

Indiana's defense gave up 74 points in their last game, despite holding their opponent to just 38% shooting from the field. The Hoosiers limited two-point opportunities, with the other team shooting only 35% on 45 attempts.

However, Indiana struggled to defend the three-point line, where their opponent hit 44% of their shots, going 12/27. The Hoosiers also allowed 16 points from the free-throw line, with the other team shooting 64% from the stripe.

Nittany Lions Preview: Is a Home Win Possible for Penn State?

Penn State improved to 12-2 on the season with an 84-80 win over Northwestern on Thursday. The Nittany Lions were favored by 4.5 points at home but didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 164 exceeded the over/under line of 144.5.

Penn State led 37-34 at halftime and scored 47 points in the second half while allowing 46. Although they got the win, the Nittany Lions will want to tighten up their defense going forward.

Nittany Lions Offense Breakdown

Penn State put up 84 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field. They were 62.1% on two-pointers, but struggled from deep, hitting just 4 of 15 threes (26.7%).

At the line, they made 36 of 45 free throws, shooting 80%. Brooks Barnhizer and Zach Hicks each scored 20 points, with Barnhizer adding 11 rebounds and 8 assists.

Nittany Lions Team Defense

Even with Penn State holding them to 50% shooting, the Nittany Lions couldn’t keep their opponent from scoring 80 points. They were particularly effective inside, hitting 62% of their two-point attempts (18/29).

From beyond the arc, Penn State limited their opponent to just 4 made threes on 15 attempts (26%). However, they sent them to the free-throw line 45 times, where they converted 36 for 80%.

Hoosiers vs Nittany Lions Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Although Indiana has a straight up record of 2-3 in their last five road games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 2-3. The team averaged 73 points per game in these games.
Across the Nittany Lions last five home games, the team averaged 72 points per game while allowing 68. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 1-3-1, while going 2-3 straight-up.
Looking back on the team's last ten games as the underdog, the Hoosiers have a straight up record of 5-5. Their record vs the spread in these games was 5-5.
Going back to their last ten games as the favorite, the Nittany Lions have a straight up record of 10-0. But, their mark vs the spread was just 4-6.