Kennesaw State Owls vs Santa Clara Broncos Matchup

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

Kennesaw State vs Santa Clara Prediction

Looking to win big? The Owls and Broncos face off at 10:00 ET on ESPN+. The Broncos are hosting the game at Leavey Center in Santa Clara, CA. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 158.5 points, and Santa Clara is favored by -14.5 at home against Kennesaw State.

Kennesaw State vs. Santa Clara Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Kennesaw State Owls at Santa Clara Broncos
Where: Santa Clara at Leavey Center
Date: Wednesday, December 18th
Betting Odds SANCLR -14.5, KENEST +670 | SANCLR -1150 O/U 158.5

Owls Preview: Taking a Look at the Owls Chances on the Road

Kennesaw State Owls Recent Game/Games

The Owls improved to 5-3 this season with an 81-77 road win over Georgia State on Friday. Entering the game as +2 point underdogs, Kennesaw State not only pulled off the win but also covered the spread.

After trailing 39-36 at halftime, the Owls outscored the Panthers 45-38 in the second half. The game’s total points (158) narrowly exceeded the O/U line of 157.5.

Owls Offense Breakdown

Kennesaw State put up 81 points in their latest game, shooting 42.6% from the field and 31% from beyond the arc, hitting 9 of 29 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 49.2%, with a 53.1% success rate on two-point shots. At the free-throw line, they connected on 74.1%, making 20 of 27 attempts.

Adrian Wooley led the way with 28 points, shooting 52.9% overall and 50% from three-point range. Simeon Cottle added 27 points, while Zarique Nutter contributed 20. Cesare Edwards recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, despite shooting 40% from the field.

Owls Team Defense

Even with Kennesaw State holding them to 40% shooting, the Owls managed to score 77 points. They shot 41% from two-point range, making 17 of 41 attempts.

From beyond the arc, Kennesaw State hit 9 of 24 threes, good for 37%. They also went to the free-throw line 25 times, converting 16 of those for 64%. The Owls grabbed 17 offensive rebounds in the game.

Broncos Preview: Can Santa Clara Secure a Home Victory?

Santa Clara Broncos Recent Game/Games

Santa Clara improved to 6-5 on the season with an 84-74 home win over Bradley on Saturday. The Broncos, who entered the game as -3.5 favorites, covered the spread, and the combined 158 points exceeded the O/U line of 144.5.

Santa Clara took control early, leading 41-25 at halftime. However, they allowed 49 points in the 2nd half while scoring 43 of their own to secure the win.

Broncos Offense Breakdown

Santa Clara's offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 84 points with a field goal percentage of 48.2%. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 58.9%, thanks in large part to their 50% shooting from beyond the arc, hitting 12 of 24 attempts.

Duke Deen and Elijah Mahi each scored 23 points, with Deen adding 7 assists. Carlos Stewart Jr. was also a key contributor, knocking down 5 of 8 threes and finishing with 20 points. Christoph Tilly was highly efficient, shooting 75% from the field and adding 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Broncos Team Defense

Santa Clara's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 74 points on 48% shooting from the field. The Broncos allowed 27 made field goals on 56 attempts, with their opponents shooting 46% from two-point range, hitting 15 of 32 shots.

From beyond the arc, Santa Clara's defense gave up 12 threes on 24 attempts, a 50% shooting performance. They also sent their opponents to the free-throw line 24 times, where they converted 18 free throws for a 75% success rate. The Broncos allowed 13 offensive rebounds in the game.

Owls vs Broncos Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Kennesaw State has played well in their previous three road games, going 2-1 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 69 points per game while allowing 69. The team also performed well vs the spread at 2-1.
Through their last five home contests, the Broncos offense has averaged 69 points per game while allowing an average of 72. Santa Clara posted an overall record of 2-3 while going 2-3 ATS.
Looking back on the team's last ten games as the underdog, the Owls have a straight up record of 4-6. Their record vs the spread in these games was 6-4.
Going back to their last ten games as the favorite, the Broncos have a straight up record of 5-5. But, their mark vs the spread was just 4-6.