The Army Black Knights aim to stop the bleeding of a losing streak on Wednesday evening. Army hosts the Bucknell Bison in a Patriot League matchup, with the Black Knights aiming to snap a six-game skid. Army is 13-15 overall and 7-9 in Patriot League action, including a win over Bucknell on Jan. 4. The Bison are 7-21 overall and 4-12 in conference games, though Bucknell is 2-2 in the last four contests.
Army is listed as a six-point home favorite, and tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the Over-Under, is 148 in the latest Bucknell vs. Army odds. Before you make any college basketball predictions with the Bucknell vs. Army match-up, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of almost $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Army vs. Bucknell, and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the college basketball odds and betting lines for Bucknell vs. Army:
Bucknell vs. Army spread: Army -6Bucknell vs. Army over-under: 148 pointsBUCK: The Bison are 7-9 against the spread in conference gamesARMY: The Black Knights are 9-7 against the spread in Patriot League games
Featured Game | Army West Point Black Knights vs. Bucknell Bison
Why Bucknell can cover
Bucknell’s defense is above-average in a few categories, including free throw prevention and block rate. The Bison should also benefit from Army’s shortcomings on offense, as the Black Knights are strongly below average in adjusted offensive efficiency. Army is making only 63 percent of free throw attempts, one of the worst marks in the country, and the Black Knights are No. 9 in the Patriot League in 3-point shooting at 32.2 percent. Army is also near the bottom of the country in block rate allowed (11.1 percent) and steal rate allowed (11.0 percent) this season.
On the other end, Bucknell leads the Patriot League in free throw shooting, with top-three marks in free throw creation, 3-point accuracy, and shooting efficiency. Bucknell is making 37 percent of 3-pointers this season, including 38.2 percent in conference play, and Army is last in the Patriot League in shooting efficiency allowed. Opponents are shooting 55 percent on two-point shots against Army and the Black Knights have the worst block rate (5.0 percent) in the conference.
Why Army can cover
Army has an appetizing offensive matchup against a Bucknell team that is dead-last in the Patriot League in shooting efficiency allowed on defense. However, the Black Knights are also very strong on defense. Army leads the conference in free throw prevention, with top-two marks in turnover creation rate (20.5 percent) and steal rate (11.5 percent). Army is also above-average nationally with a 73.1 percent defensive rebound rate, and the Black Knights are disciplined and aggressive.
Bucknell has issues in ball security, with the second-worst turnover rate (18.7 percent) in the Patriot League. The Bison commit a live-ball turnover on 12 percent of possessions, ranking outside the top 350 nationally, and offensive rebounding is also an issue for Bucknell. The Bison have a 21.9 percent offensive rebound rate for the full season, ranking near the bottom of the country, and Bucknell is third-worst in the Patriot League in the same category.
How to make Army vs. Bucknell picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning under on the total, projecting 144 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits almost 60 percent of the time. You can only get the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Bucknell vs. Army? And which side of the spread hits nearly 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up almost $2,000 on its college basketball picks the last five-plus years, and find out.
