Butler Bulldogs vs. Indiana Hoosiers Preview
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse — Indianapolis, Indiana
When: Saturday, December 17, 5:00 PM ET
Line: Butler Bulldogs (TBA) vs. Indiana Hoosiers (TBA) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: BTN
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Betting on the Butler Bulldogs
18th-ranked Butler would still be unbeaten right now if it wasn’t for that heartbreaking 72-71 loss to Indiana State last week. But the Bulldogs quickly moved on from it, bouncing back against then-No. 22 Cincinnati on Saturday, 75-65.
Kelan Martin led the way, despite being benched at the start, with 20 points, grabbed four rebounds and ignited a pair of second-half runs that guaranteed his team the victory. On the season, he’s averaging 17.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Butler’s main strength, though, is found at the other end of the floor. This team is allowing just 62.0 points per game and holds opponents to a 41.5 field goal shooting percentage. That pesky defense was on full display versus the Bearcats, who shot just 40.0 percent from the floor and 23.1 percent from down town.
Betting on the Indiana Hoosiers
No.9 Indiana, on the other hand, lives and dies on its offense that’s averaging a Big Ten-high 87.6 points per game and through its rebounding prowess (45.9 RPG).
The Hoosiers have won their last five games by an average margin of 27 points. That stretch includes a 9-point victory over then-No. 3 North Carolina and a 103-61 blowout win last Saturday versus Houston Baptist. They’re 8-1 on the season overall, with the only loss coming against Fort Wayne in the previous month.
Four players are scoring in double-digits for Indiana, with the trio of James Blackmon Jr. (16.9 points), Robert Johnson (13.1) and Thomas Bryant (11.9 points, 8.4 rebounds) leading the attack.
Bryant, in particular, also adds stability and consistent rim protection for the Hoosiers, who are giving up only 65.7 points this season. The sophomore center is averaging nearly two blocks each game this season, including 11 total blocks in the last three games.
Writer’s Prediction
Indiana wins it.
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