Grand Canyon vs. Louisiana Tech Spread Pick: Betting Preview & Prediction

Grand Canyon Antelopes (5-3 SU, 2-6 ATS) vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (7-2 SU, 6-2-1 ATS)

When: Monday, December 16th, 7:30 PM (ET)

Where: Thomas Assembly Center, LA, Ruston

TV: ESPN+

Point Spread: GCAN -1.5/LOUTCH +1.5

Total: 146

Money Line: Grand Canyon Antelopes -119/-103

Notable Injuries

Antelopes

Bulldogs

• Will Jeffress (Out) Knee

Recent Form

Grand Canyon Antelopes Recent Game/Games

The Antelopes fell to 5-3 on the season after a 73-68 road loss to Georgia on Saturday. Entering the game as +6.5 point underdogs, Grand Canyon managed to keep it closer than expected, covering the spread.

After trailing 34-23 at halftime, the Antelopes scored 45 points in the 2nd half while allowing 39. The game’s total points of 141 fell short of the O/U line of 149.

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Recent Game/Games

The Bulldogs improved to 7-2 on the season with a 77-63 win over Georgia Southern on Friday. Playing at home, Louisiana Tech entered the game as -11.5 point favorites and covered the spread. The total points for the game ended up at 140, just under the O/U line of 144.5.

After trailing 35-33 at halftime, Louisiana Tech turned things around in the 2nd half, scoring 44 points while holding Georgia Southern to 28 points.

Analysis

Grand Canyon struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 36.5% from the field and 25.9% from beyond the arc, finishing with 68 points. Their effective field goal percentage was 41.3%, but they did hit 88.2% of their free throws, going 15-for-17 at the line.

Asa Newell led the way with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 2-of-4 from three. Ray Harrison added 16 points, also hitting 2-of-4 from deep, while Somtochukwu Cyril was efficient inside, making 5-of-6 shots and grabbing eight rebounds. Tyon Grant-Foster struggled, shooting 2-of-17 overall and missing all 8 of his three-point attempts.

Grand Canyon’s defense struggled in their last game, allowing 73 points on 50% shooting from the field. They gave up 57% shooting from inside the arc, with their opponent hitting 22 of 38 two-point attempts.

From beyond the three-point line, Grand Canyon’s defense allowed five made threes on 15 attempts, a 33% shooting rate. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 17 times, where they converted 14 shots for 82%.

Louisiana Tech’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, shooting 53.4% from the field and 40.9% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 62.1%, with a strong two-point shooting performance of 61.1%.

Kaden Cooper led the way with 25 points, hitting 3 of 5 from deep, while Daniel Batcho was nearly perfect, shooting 9 of 10 from the field. The Bulldogs also dished out 21 assists, with Bradley Douglas contributing four assists and 20 points, knocking down 3 of 6 from three-point range.

Louisiana Tech’s defense couldn’t slow down their opponent, giving up 63 points on 53% shooting from the field. They struggled to contain two-point shots, with the other team hitting 61% of their attempts inside the arc.

From three-point range, Louisiana Tech allowed nine threes on 22 attempts, a 40% success rate. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 10 times, where they made six shots. Louisiana Tech gave up ten offensive rebounds.

Betting Trends

• Grand Canyon has a 1-2 record in their last three road games. In this stretch, they averaged 74 points per game while allowing 77. The team also performed well vs the spread at 2-1.
• Through their last ten home games, Louisiana Tech has an ATS record of just 8-2. However, their overall record was 8-2 while averaging 74 points per game.
• Going back to their previous ten games as the underdog, Louisiana Tech has an ATS mark of 6-4 while going 3-7 straight up.
• Against the spread, the Antelopes have put together 0-3 in their last three games as the betting favorite. In these same games, they went 2-1 straight up.

Joe”s Pick To Cover The Spread

It is a pretty light schedule in college basketball on Monday, and this is one that is supposed to be one of the tighter games of the slate. However, I think the oddsmakers are putting too much emphasis on the Bulldogs being at home, putting them at just +1.5 point dogs. I see Grand Canyon winning this one by at least 5-6 points. I’m taking Grand Canyon to win and cover.