The Citadel vs Central Arkansas: Odds, Predictions & Key Insights | December 16, 2024

Two of the worst teams in college basketball are set to square off, and while it may not seem appealing on the surface, this matchup offers plenty to unpack. Central Arkansas hosts the Citadel in a battle of bottom-tier squads, but the circumstances surrounding this game make it worth a deeper look. Trust me—there is value to be found in this under-the-radar showdown.

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The Citadel vs Central Arkansas Odds

The Citadel vs Central Arkansas odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture among the top online sports betting sites. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a big bonus (100% if your first deposit is with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency) to bet on College Basketball games.

Spread

Citadel: +3.5 (-110)

Central Arkansas: -3.5 (-110)

Total

Over: 139.5 (-110)

Under: 139.5 (-110)

Moneyline

Citadel: +140

Central Arkansa: -160

The Citadel vs Central Arkansas Predictions

Before you judge me for diving into the deep, dark depths of today's college basketball slate, hear me out first. I promise there is plenty to like about two bottom-20 teams squaring off in what is arguably the worst-rated game of the day. As the saying goes, never judge a book by its cover.

Easy Street living Bulldogs

Central Arkansas hosts a Citadel team hitting the road for the first time since November 4, the start of the college basketball season. The Bulldogs have gone a month and a half without a road game, now traveling after a 28-point loss to Campbell last Thursday. They will face a 2-8 Bears squad coming off an 82-57 loss to Arkansas this past Saturday.

The Citadel has been cruising down Easy Street since the season began. According to Haslametrics, the Bulldogs have played the sixth-easiest schedule in the country so far. Their slate includes four non-Division I schools, two teams ranked in the bottom 50, and only two opponents inside the top 170. Their lone road game was against Boston College, ranked 161 by Bart Torvik.

Central Arkansas' Early Challenges

Central Arkansas, on the other hand, has faced a much tougher schedule, ranked 177 spots higher than the Citadel's. The Bears have played road games at BYU (ranked 32), Utah (62), and most recently against Arkansas (42) on a neutral court. Beyond those three top-75 opponents, Central Arkansas has also faced two teams in the top 180: UNC Asheville (176) and Georgia Tech (113). Seven of their ten games have been on the road.

Neither team has any redeeming qualities on either end of the floor, and this will likely be a slower-paced game, as both teams rank in the mid-200s in tempo. That said, the Bears have at least shown flashes at home against Division I opponents. Their defense has been respectable in these games, playing at a top-185 level by forcing turnovers, avoiding fouls, and protecting the interior. Offensively, while nothing flashy, they are solid at getting to the free-throw line and converting those opportunities.

The Bulldogs' only notable stat is their three-point defense, which ranks in the top 65 nationally. However, their road stats are irrelevant, as they have only played one away game—and it was the season opener.

The Play

The Citadel will have to pack it up quickly after this game and head to Vanderbilt to face the Commodores on Wednesday, making this their first true road trip of the season. Meanwhile, Central Arkansas gets six days of rest before traveling to play the Sooners on Sunday.

I like the home team in this spot enough to swallow the juice on the moneyline. Both teams are bad, so I will not bother worrying about covering a spread. Just win.

Bet: Central Arkansas Moneyline (-160) on BetOnline

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