Niagara Purple Eagles vs St. Bonaventure Bonnies Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Niagara vs St. Bonaventure NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Saint Bonaventure.

Niagara vs St. Bonaventure Prediction

Planning on watching today's Purple Eagles and Bonnies game? Catch the action at Reilly Center in Saint Bonaventure, NY, as the Bonnies hosts this showdown at 1:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this game is set at 130.5 points, and St. Bonaventure is favored by -16.5 against Niagara in a non-conference matchup.

Niagara vs. St. Bonaventure Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Niagara Purple Eagles at St. Bonaventure Bonnies
Where: Saint Bonaventure at Reilly Center
Date: Saturday, December 21st
Betting Odds STBON -16.5, NIAGRA +1078 | STBON -2685 O/U 130.5

Purple Eagles Preview: Does Niagara Have A Chance at Reilly Center?

Niagara improved to 4-6 on the season with a 69-66 win over Saint Francis U on Saturday. Playing at home, the Purple Eagles were -4 favorites but didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 135, just under the O/U line of 136.5.

After trailing 34-33 at halftime, Niagara turned things around in the 2nd half, outscoring the Red Flash 36-32 to secure the win.

Purple Eagles Offense Breakdown

Niagara's offense put up 69 points in their last game, shooting 43.9% from the field. They were particularly effective from beyond the arc, hitting 13 of 30 threes for a 43.3% rate, contributing to an effective field goal percentage of 56.1%.

Justice Smith and Miles Webb each scored 17 points, with Smith going 3-for-3 from deep. Jahari Williamson and Juan Cranford Jr. also connected on 3 threes, with Williamson hitting 4 of 8 from downtown.

Purple Eagles Team Defense

Niagara's defense gave up 66 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 43% from the field on 25 of 57 attempts. They managed to hold their opponent to 44% shooting from two-point range, with 12 made baskets on 27 attempts.

From beyond the arc, Niagara allowed 13 threes on 30 attempts, a 43% shooting performance. The opposing team also went to the free-throw line 7 times, converting 6 of those for an 85% success rate. Niagara gave up 7 offensive rebounds in the game.

Bonnies Preview: Will St. Bonaventure Secure A Victory as Home Favorites?

St. Bonaventure improved to 10-1 on the season with a 65-48 road win over Siena on Tuesday. The Bonnies entered the game as -6.5 favorites and covered the spread, while the total points of 113 fell short of the 127.5 O/U line.

St. Bonaventure took control early, leading 34-17 at halftime. Both teams scored 31 points in the second half, but the Bonnies’ strong first half was enough to secure the win.

Bonnies Offense Breakdown

St. Bonaventure put up 65 points in their latest game, shooting 44.1% from the field. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 4 of 20 attempts for a 20% success rate, while their effective field goal percentage stood at 47.5%. Inside the arc, they were much more efficient, connecting on 56.4% of their two-point shots.

The Bonnies were solid at the free-throw line, making 9 of 10 attempts, and grabbed 8 offensive rebounds. They recorded just 7 assists as a team. Chance Moore led the way with 23 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 60% from the field, while Melvin Council Jr. added 14 points and 4 assists, hitting 2 of 4 from three-point range.

Bonnies Team Defense

St. Bonaventure's defense was dominant, holding their opponent to just 48 points on 32% shooting from the field. The Bonnies limited damage inside, allowing 40% shooting on two-point attempts.

From beyond the arc, St. Bonaventure's defense was even more effective, as they held their opponent to 23% shooting on 26 attempts. The Bonnies also sent their opponent to the line just 8 times, where they hit 6 free throws.

Purple Eagles vs Bonnies Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Across their last three road contests, Niagara has a 2-1 record vs the spread. Their overall mark in these games was 1-2, while averaging 61 points per game.
Across their ten previous home games, St. Bonaventure has an ATS mark of 8-2. Their straight up record in these matchups was 8-2 while averaging 71 points per game.
The last five games that Niagara was the underdog, they have an ATS mark of 2-3 while going 0-5 straight up.
Looking back on the team's last ten games as the favorite, the Bonnies have a straight up record of 10-0. Their record vs the spread in these games was 8-2.