Sacred Heart vs Bryant Odds and Picks (Dec. 31)

• The Bryant Bulldogs are 7-point home favorites over the Sacred Heart Pioneers in an NCAA men’s basketball game scheduled for Friday, December 31
• Sacred Heart comes to Bryant riding a two-game winning streak
• The Bulldogs are 2-9 straight up in their last 11 games against the Pioneers

Neither the Bryant Bulldogs or Sacred Heart Pioneers are exactly lighting it up so far during the NCAA men’s basketball season as they are getting set for a New Year’s Eve clash against each other.

The Bulldogs are 5-7, while the Pioneers are an even-worse 5-9. Both schools, though, are 1-0 in Northeast Conference play.

It’s the hometown Bulldogs who are being set as 7-point favorites in this clash. Bryant is 1-4-1 against the spread over the school’s past six games, however.

Sacred Heart vs Bryant Odds

Odds as of December 31st at FanDuel.

Friday’s game is set for a 1pm ET tipoff at the Chace Athletic Center. The game can be streamed via NECFrontRow.

Sacred Heart Pioneers Betting Trends

Sacred Heart junior guard Tyler Thomas paces the NEC in scoring, averaging 18.9 points per game. Thomas is leading the country in field goal attempts (236) and is sixth in made field goals (102).

He is also is 13th nationally with 105 three-point attempts and is ranked in the top 50 with 36 made 3-pointers. The Pioneers work well and often from long range. They lead the NEC and are 39th nationally with 122 made 3-point field goals. As well, Sacred Heart is 21st in the NCAA in 3-point attempts (366).

PIOS WIN!!!!

Starting 1-0 in #NECMBB play for the first time since 2019! pic.twitter.com/AhqyeBZH3C

— SHU Men's Basketball (@SHU_MensHoops) December 30, 2021

Senior forward Cantavio Dutreil pulled down a season-high 14 rebounds in the Pioneers’ NEC opening win over Long Island. It was the first time since the 2018-19 season that Sacred Heart opened conference play with a victory.

Sophomore forward Nico Galette has hit for double figures in each of Sacred Heart’s past four games. Galette leads the conference with 8.6 rebounds per game and is second in offensive boards per game (2.57). Senior guard Aaron Clarke is third in the NEC with 140 assists on the year.

Bryant Bulldogs Betting Trends

Bryant opened NEC play with a 80-76 victory over Central Connecticut on Wednesday night. The Bulldogs were paced by 25 points from graduate student forward Hall Elisias and a combined 23 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists from senior guard Peter Kiss and junior guard Charles Pride.

His 25 points were a career best for Elisias. He also added 10 rebounds to post his first double-double of the season. As well, Elisias blocked five shots. He now ranks fifth nationally in blocks per game, averaging 3.5.

? NEC Spotlight ?

Hall Elisias (@hall_elisias)
25 pts
10 rebs
5 blks ?
9-11 FG
W.

Elisias was a major key in @BryantHoops 1-0 start to conference play tonight. Bryant should make some noise in conference play this year pic.twitter.com/LFcacfWile

— CBB Nation (@CBBNation247) December 30, 2021

Pride is leading Bryant and the NEC with four double-doubles on the year following an 11-point, 12-rebound effort at Central Connecticut. Pride is averaging a career-high 7.7 rebounds per game this year. That’s third-most in the NEC.

Kiss is second in the NEC in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game. Graduate student guard Adham Eleeda is tied for 69th in the NCAA in 3-point field goals made per game with 2.75. Bryant is 30th in the nation in 3-point field goal attempts (351).

Bulldogs vs Pioneers Prediction

Friday’s game is a rematch of last year’s NEC semifinal. Bryant won that game 85-55, even though the Bulldogs were playing with just seven available players due to COVID-19 protocols.

Still, they posted the largest margin of victory in the school’s DI program history. Sacred Heart, however, owns a 19-7 lead in the DI series, winning nine of the last 11 meetings.

Both of these teams are carried by their offenses. Sacred Heart is 188th in scoring offense (71.8 ppg) and tied for 88th in three-pointers made per game (8.7). Bryant is 169th in scoring offense (72.6 ppg) and tied for 106th in three-pointers made per game (8.4).

Start your day with a look back at last nights #NECMBB victory.

Join us Friday for a New Years Eve matinee at the Chace against Sacred Heart.

?: https://t.co/DRgMLEZK6L pic.twitter.com/zYRgN9DtAy

— Bryant Men's Basketball (@BryantHoops) December 30, 2021

On the other hand, the Bulldogs are 300th in the NCAA in scoring defense (75.0 ppg). The Pioneers rank 270th in the nation in this department (72.5 ppg).

The Bulldogs’ apparent inability to defend is opening the door to an upset play here. Based upon Bryant’s recent ATS record, Sacred Heart should cover. The Pioneers might even end up winning outright. But play it safe and take the points.

Pick: Sacred Heart Pioneers +7 (-110)

The post Sacred Heart vs Bryant Odds and Picks (Dec. 31) appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

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