Mercer vs. Western Carolina betting: College basketball preview for January 12

Data Skrive
Data Skrive

The Western Carolina Catamounts (4-10, 0-3 SoCon) are 5-point underdogs as they try to turn around a three-game losing streak when they host the Mercer Bears (9-7, 2-1 SoCon) on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at Ramsey Regional Activity Center. The contest airs at 3:30 PM ET on ESPN+. The point total is 153 in the matchup.

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Spread

Mercer Cover -5 vs Western Carolina -111

Bet $20, Payout $38.02

Mercer vs. Western Carolina betting lines

  • Mercer moneyline odds to win: -219
  • Western Carolina moneyline odds to win: +179
  • Spread: Mercer (-5)
  • Total: 153

Mercer statistics, trends and more

As the away team

  • In home games, Mercer has a better record against the spread (3-1-0) compared to its ATS record in road games (4-4-0).
  • The Bears have gone over the total in two of four home games (50%). They’ve fared the same in away games, eclipsing the total in four of eight matchups (50%).
  • As a moneyline favorite, Mercer has the same winning percentage at home compared to when playing on the road (1.000).

Recent trends

  • The Bears have seen a downturn in scoring lately, racking up 79.3 points per game in their last 10 contests, 2.6 points fewer than the 81.9 they’ve scored this season.
  • The last 10 games have seen Mercer allow 1.3 more points per game (76.7) than its season-long average (75.4).
  • The Bears’ past 10 outings have seen them make 8.8 three-pointers per game while shooting 33.7% from beyond the arc. Both numbers are below their 2024-25 averages of 9.3 makes and 34.3%.

Mercer betting records this season

  • ATS Record: 9-5-0 (Home: 3-1-0; Away: 4-4-0)
  • ATS Record When Favored by 5+: 1-2-0 (As Favorite: 3-2-0; As Underdog: 6-3-0)
  • O-U-P: 7-7-0 (Home: 2-2-0; Away: 4-4-0)
  • Record When Moneyline Favorite: 5-0 (Home: 2-0; Away: 3-0)
  • Record When Moneyline Underdog: 2-7 (Home: 1-1; Away: 0-5)
Field Goal % Opp. Field Goal % Rebounds Opp. Rebounds Assists Turnovers
46.2 (121st in nation) 42.6 (140th) 35.3 (63rd) 34.7 (330th) 15.4 (98th) 12.9 (299th)

Need to know more about sports betting before you put down a wager on Mercer vs. Western Carolina? Here’s everything you need to know about how to bet.

Western Carolina statistics, trends and more

As the home team

  • Western Carolina’s winning percentage against the spread at home is .250 (1-3-0). Away, it is .429 (3-4-0).
  • Catamounts games have gone above the over/under less often at home (two times out of four) than away (four of seven) this year.
  • The Catamounts, as moneyline underdogs, have won the same percentage of games at home (0-2) as away (0-7) this year.

Last season stats

  • The Catamounts scored 76.8 points per game (86th-ranked in college basketball) last season, while allowing 68.7 points per contest (78th-ranked).
  • Western Carolina allowed 30.9 rebounds per game last season (141st-ranked in college basketball), but it thrived by averaging 36.6 rebounds per game (16th-best).
  • The Catamounts delivered 11.3 assists per game, which ranked them 314th in college basketball.

Western Carolina betting records this season

  • ATS Record: 4-7-0 (Home: 1-3-0; Away: 3-4-0)
  • ATS Record When Underdog by 5+: 3-5-0 (As Favorite: 1-1-0; As Underdog: 3-6-0)
  • O-U-P: 6-5-0 (Home: 2-2-0; Away: 4-3-0)
  • Record When Moneyline Favorite: 1-1 (Home: 1-1; Away: 0-0)
  • Record When Moneyline Underdog: 0-9 (Home: 0-2; Away: 0-7)
Field Goal % Opp. Field Goal % Rebounds Opp. Rebounds Assists Turnovers
39.6 (352nd in nation) 44.2 (231st) 34.9 (77th) 31.8 (224th) 12.2 (294th) 15.9 (362nd)
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