Northern Kentucky Norse vs Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Purdue Fort Wayne vs Northern Kentucky NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Highland Heights.

Purdue Fort Wayne vs Northern Kentucky Prediction

Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Mastodons versus the Norse? Tip off is at at 12:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Truist Arena in Highland Heights, KY. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 143.5 points, and Northern Kentucky is favored by -2.5 to win at home against Purdue Fort Wayne.

Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Northern Kentucky Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons at Northern Kentucky Norse
Where: Highland Heights at Truist Arena
Date: Wednesday, January 1st
Betting Odds NKENT -2.5, IPFW +117 | NKENT -144 O/U 143.5

Mastodons Preview: Taking a Look at the Mastodons Chances in Highland Heights

Purdue Fort Wayne improved to 8-5 on the season with an 83-67 road win over Green Bay on Sunday. The Mastodons entered the game as -8.5 favorites and covered the spread, while the total points of 150 fell short of the O/U line of 158.5.

After taking a commanding 44-24 lead at halftime, Purdue Fort Wayne allowed 43 points in the 2nd half but still managed to score 39 points of their own to secure the win.

Mastodons Offense Breakdown

Purdue Fort Wayne's offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 83 points with a 47.5% field goal percentage. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 61%, thanks in large part to their 55.6% shooting from beyond the arc, hitting 15 of 27 attempts.

Quinton Morton-Robertson and Preston Ruedinger both shot 83.3% from the field, with Morton-Robertson going 4-for-4 from three-point range. Jalen Jackson added 15 points and 5 assists, while Ruedinger also contributed 5 assists and 7 rebounds.

Mastodons Team Defense

Despite Purdue Fort Wayne allowing 67 points, their defense struggled, giving up 57% shooting from the field. They had particular trouble defending inside, where their opponent shot 75% on two-pointers, converting 22 of 29 attempts.

The Mastodons did manage to limit damage from beyond the arc, holding their opponent to 30% shooting on threes, with just 6 makes on 20 attempts. Purdue Fort Wayne also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 12 times, where they hit 5, shooting 41%.

Norse Preview: Will Northern Kentucky Secure A Victory as Home Favorites?

Northern Kentucky fell to 5-7 on the season after a 97-93 road loss to Robert Morris on Sunday. The Norse entered the game as +1 underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points of 190 far exceeded the O/U line of 134.5.

NKU trailed 36-32 at halftime but outscored Robert Morris 41-37 in the second half. Despite the strong finish, they couldn’t complete the comeback.

Norse Offense Breakdown

Northern Kentucky put up 93 points in their last game, shooting 40.7% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 45.7%, and they connected on 63.3% of their free throws, going 19-for-30 from the line.

Amarion Dickerson led the way with 27 points and 15 rebounds, shooting 55% from the field. Alvaro Folgueiras added 21 points and 19 rebounds, while Kam Woods dished out 10 assists despite shooting just 15.4% from the field.

Norse Team Defense

Northern Kentucky gave up 97 points in their last game, despite holding the opposing team to 38% shooting from the field. The Norse allowed 28 two-point field goals on 58 attempts, a 48% shooting rate.

From beyond the arc, Northern Kentucky's defense limited their opponent to 7 made threes on 33 attempts, a 21% success rate. The Norse also sent the other team to the free-throw line 32 times, where they converted 20 free throws, shooting 62%.

Mastodons vs Norse Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

When looking at their past five road matchups, Purdue Fort Wayne has an ATS record of 3-2 while averaging 79 per game. The team went 3-2 overall in these games.
In their last three games at home, the Norse have a straight up record of 1-2 while going 0-3 vs. the spread. The team averaged 77 points per game in this stretch.
In their last five games as the betting underdog, the Mastodons have a straight up record of 2-3 and an ATS mark of 4-1.
Looking back on the team's last ten games as the favorite, the Norse have a straight up record of 8-2. Their record vs the spread in these games was 4-6.