Check out our free LIU vs Sacred Heart pick and preview for this NCAA Basketball game in Fairfield. See who we like to win and cover the spread in this College Basketball matchup.

LIU vs Sacred Heart Pick & Preview: Thursday, January 26th Betting Odds

Sharks vs Pioneers Matchup at a Glance

  • Sport: NCAAB
  • Teams: LIU Sharks at Sacred Heart Pioneers
  • Where: Fairfield at William H. Pitt Center
  • Date: Thursday, January 26th
  • Betting Odds: LIU +12.5, LIUB +577 | SACRED -908 O/U 149.0

Sharks Preview:

Through 20 games, the LIU Sharks have an overall record of 2-18. So far, the Sharks have played 10 games on the road, with a record of 0-10. For the season, LIU has been the underdog in 18 games, sitting with a mark of 0-18. Currently, the oddsmakers have the lines set with the Sharks being +12.5 point underdogs.

LIU will be counting on another strong performance from the team’s leading scorer Marko Maletic who is averaging 17.26 points per game for the Sharks. Maletic is also important to the team’s ability to score on the perimeter. So far, he leads the team in 3-point shots made. Also key to the Sharks’ offensive game plan is the play of Jacob Johnson who has hit 46.7% of his field goal attempts on his way to averaging 11.4 points per game.

On offense, LIU is scoring a rate similar to the NCAA average at 74.8 points per game. This figure has come despite struggling to knock down shots from outside. Through 20 games, they have only hit 31.3% of their 3-point field goal attempts. For the season, 40.06% of their shots have come from beyond the arc.

Pioneers Preview:

Sacred Heart heads into this matchup having played 22 games and have an overall record sitting at 11-11. So far this season, Sacred Heart has played 8 games at home, sitting with a record of 5-3. The Pioneers’ are sitting with a betting line that is -12.5 points in their favor. For the season, Sacred Heart has been favored to win in 9 games, sitting with a mark of 6-3.

Sacred Heart’s leading scorer this season is Nico Galette, who is averaging 15.59 points per contest. So far, Galette has accounted for 21.86% of the team’s scoring. In addition, he is contributing 6.64 rebounds per game and 1.82 assists. Raheem Solomon is the second leading scorer for the Pioneers, averaging 11.32 points per game. Between him and Solomon, they are accounting for 37.7% of the team’s scoring.

Offensive production has been hard to come by for Sacred Heart this season, as they are currently ranked 157th in college basketball at 72.7 points per game. A major reason for low scoring totals is the fact that they have played at a below average pace, and have struggled to knock down outside shots. As a team, the Pioneers’ 3-point shooting percentage sits at just 34.3%, placing them 226th in the NCAA.

Free Spread Prediction: LIU Sharks +12.5

Based on our analysis of this matchup, we believe that Sacred Heart’s fast-paced style of play will give them an advantage against a LIU team that prefers to slow the game down. Despite the large point spread (-12.5), expect Pioneers’ to benefit from an increased number of possessions as they work towards an easy victory. We recommend betting on Sacred Heart to not only win but also cover the spread against LIU.