Pittsburgh Panthers vs Sam Houston Bearkats Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Sam Houston vs Pittsburgh NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Pittsburgh.

Sam Houston vs Pittsburgh Prediction

Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Bearkats and Panthers. The game is starting at 1:00 ET on ACC, and it's hosted by the Panthers at Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, PA. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 152.5 points, and Pittsburgh is favored by -16.5 at home against Sam Houston.

Sam Houston vs. Pittsburgh Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Sam Houston Bearkats at Pittsburgh Panthers
Where: Pittsburgh at Petersen Events Center
Date: Saturday, December 21st
Betting Odds PITT -16.5, SMHO +975 | PITT -2050 O/U 152.5

Bearkats Preview: Does Sam Houston Stand a Chance on the Road?

Sam Houston improved to 4-5 on the season with an 87-71 home win over Texas Southern on Saturday. The Bearkats entered the game as -11 favorites and covered the spread, while the total points of 158 went over the 147.5 O/U line.

After trailing 36-32 at halftime, Sam Houston turned things around in the 2nd half, outscoring the Tigers 55-35 to secure the win.

Bearkats Offense Breakdown

Sam Houston's offense put up 87 points in their last game, shooting 47.5% from the field and knocking down 45.2% of their threes (14/31). Their effective field goal percentage was 59%, and they grabbed 19 offensive rebounds, with 17 assists as a team.

Lamar Wilkerson led the way with 26 points, hitting 8 of 13 threes (61.5%) and shooting 60% overall. Cameron Huefner added 22 points, and Kavion McClain contributed 19 points and 5 assists.

Bearkats Team Defense

Sam Houston's defense struggled, allowing 71 points on 47% shooting from the field. The Bearkats gave up 29 field goals on 61 attempts.

From beyond the arc, their opponent hit 14 threes on 31 attempts, good for 45%. Sam Houston also sent them to the line 24 times, where they made 15 free throws.

Panthers Preview: Do the Panthers Have What it Takes at Home?

Pittsburgh Panthers Recent Game/Games

Pittsburgh improved to 9-2 on the season with a dominant 96-56 win over Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday. The Panthers, who were -18.5 favorites, covered the spread in the home victory.

After leading 39-36 at halftime, Pittsburgh clamped down defensively, allowing just 20 points in the 2nd half while scoring 57. The game’s total points of 152 went over the pre-game line of 147.5.

Panthers Offense Breakdown

Pittsburgh's offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 96 points while shooting 61.1% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 70.4%, thanks to 71% shooting on two-pointers and 47.8% from beyond the arc.

Brandin Cummings led the way with 30 points, hitting 6 of 8 threes and shooting 76.9% overall. Jaland Lowe dished out 12 assists, and the Panthers finished with 21 assists as a team.

Panthers Team Defense

Despite Pittsburgh's defensive efforts, they couldn't contain their opponent, who scored 56 points on 61% shooting from the field. The Panthers allowed 33 made field goals on 54 attempts.

From beyond the arc, Pittsburgh's defense gave up 11 threes on 23 attempts, a 47% shooting performance. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 25 times, where they converted 19 for 76%.

Bearkats vs Panthers Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Through their last ten road contests, the Bearkats offense has averaged 72 points per game while allowing an average of 73. Sam Houston posted an overall record of 5-5 while going 5-5 ATS.
Across their ten previous home games, Pittsburgh has an ATS mark of 5-4-1. Their straight up record in these matchups was 5-5 while averaging 71 points per game.
Looking back on the team's last three games as the underdog, the Bearkats have a straight up record of 0-3. Their record vs the spread in these games was 0-3.
Through their last three matchups as the betting favorite, the Panthers have a good straight up record, but their ATS mark is just 1-2.