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  1. Home
  2. NCAAB Picks
  3. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Liberty Flames
Thu 7:00 PM ET
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers logo
Western Kentucky
Hilltoppers71
18-14
versus
Liberty Flames logo
Liberty
Flames70
25-7
Final
Team12T
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers215071
Liberty Flames353570
NCAAB · Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Liberty Flames

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Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Liberty Flames Betting Picks & Predictions

Game time: January 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM ET

Venue: Liberty Arena — Lynchburg, VA

Article updated Jan 2, 2:30 AM EST

Published by SportsJaw Editorial Team

On Thursday, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (9-4, 0-0 CUSA) will face the Liberty Flames (12-1, 0-0 CUSA) in a Conference USA matchup at Liberty Arena in Lynchburg,

Game outlook

On Thursday, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (9-4, 0-0 CUSA) will face the Liberty Flames (12-1, 0-0 CUSA) in a Conference USA matchup at Liberty Arena in Lynchburg, Virginia. Western Kentucky looks to bounce back from a tough loss to Michigan, while Liberty comes in riding a nine-game winning streak. Both teams will be starting their Conference USA season and have no players listed on the injury report. Liberty is the favored team with a -8 point spread. Be sure to check out the latest betting opportunities and sportsbook promotions for this exciting game.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Hilltoppers +293 | Flames -380

Spread: Hilltoppers +8 (-110) | Flames -8 (-110)

Total: Over/Under 146 (-110)

Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Liberty will win straight-up is 79%.

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers have a solid offensive game, scoring an average of 80.7 points per game and shooting 44.3% overall. Their defense allows an average of 76.2 points per game and opponents to shoot 40.1% overall. Leading scorers Don McHenry and Babacar Faye contribute significantly to the team's success, with McHenry averaging 18.5 points per game and Faye averaging 15.2 points per game. Jalen Jackson leads in assists, while Faye leads in rebounds. The team has a power ranking of 255 and is ranked 54th in offense and 232nd in defense. They have a record of 9-4 for the season. Defensive stats include allowing opponents to shoot 39.15% from the field and 29.48% from 3-point range. Offensively, the Hilltoppers shoot 45.03% from the field and 37.25% from beyond the arc. Additionally, they average 39.42 rebounds per game and 13.42 offensive assists. For more accurate predictions on NCAAB games, try our NCAAB Predictions service.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Picks are opinions, not guarantees. Past results do not predict future outcomes.

Liberty Flames Analysis

The Liberty Flames are performing exceptionally well this season, scoring an average of 81.5 points per game and allowing just 58.2 points per game. They are ranked 62nd for offense and 6th for defense. They have solid shooting percentages, with 51.3% overall and 39.0% from three-point territory. Leading scorers include Kaden Metheny, Zach Cleveland, and Isaiah Ihnen, all shooting over 50%. Cleveland is also a key player in rebounds and assists. Overall, the team has a power ranking of 35 and a strong record of 12-1. Their defense is particularly impressive, holding opponents to 38.5% shooting overall and 28.2% from three-point range. Liberty's performance has been dominant and consistent, making them a top choice in NCAA Cappers.

Liberty Dominates on Both Ends of the Court, Outscoring and Outdefending Western Kentucky

In terms of scoring, Liberty outperforms Western Kentucky with an average of 81.5 points per game compared to the Hilltoppers' 80.7 points per game. The most notable disparity between the two teams lies in their defensive capabilities. Liberty boasts an impressive record, allowing an average of just 58.2 points per game – ranking 6th lowest in the nation. Their opponents struggle to make shots, with an overall shooting percentage of 38.5% and a 3-point shooting percentage of 28.2%, which ranks 23rd and 19th in the country respectively. In contrast, Western Kentucky allows an average of 76.2 points per game. Moreover, Liberty has demonstrated a strong performance against the spread, covering it in six of their last seven games. The top three scorers for Liberty consistently reach double figures while maintaining impressive shooting percentages ranging from 46.8% to 55.7%.

SportsJawGame Predictions
Predicted score

Unavailable for this preview

Projected winnerUnavailableConfidencelow
Pick on the Spread

Published pick: Unavailable

Pick on the Total

Published pick: Unavailable

#WesternKentuckyHilltoppers#LibertyFlames

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Written by

SportsJaw Editorial Team

SportsJaw published this archived preview from its original game-day article. Its prediction and quoted lines are preserved as written.

About our editorial process

SportsJaw Hilltoppers vs Flames archived game preview contains historical odds and availability that may no longer be current. View history of past Hilltoppers vs Flames matchups or learn how our predictions work.

Current matchup data

Lines, trends and availability

Line movement since open

  • Moneyline · Western Kentucky Hilltoppers+300 → +380Moved
  • Moneyline · Liberty Flames-400 → -500Moved
  • Spread · Western Kentucky Hilltoppers+8 (-110) → +9.75 (-110)Moved
  • Spread · Liberty Flames-8 (-110) → -9.75 (-110)Moved
  • Total · Over145.5 (-110) → 146.5 (-110)Moved
  • Total · Under145.5 (-110) → 146.5 (-110)Moved

ATS and O/U trends

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
18-14 matchup record · 5-3-2 ATS · 5-5-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file
Liberty Flames
25-7 matchup record · 7-3-0 ATS · 4-6-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file

Injuries and availability

From the published research (2025-01-02T07:30:18.941Z). Availability may have changed; review the cited sources.

On Thursday, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (9-4, 0-0 CUSA) will face the Liberty Flames (12-1, 0-0 CUSA) in a Conference USA matchup at Liberty Arena in Lynchburg, Virginia. Western Kentucky looks to bounce back from a tough loss to Michigan, while Liberty comes in riding a nine-game winning streak. Both teams will be starting their Conference USA season and have no players listed on the injury report. Liberty is the favored team with a -8 point spread. Be sure to check out the latest betting opportunities and sportsbook promotions for this exciting game.

Recent head-to-head

  • 2024-03-09Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 79 · Liberty Flames 82
  • 2024-01-06Liberty Flames 68 · Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 70
Final result

Matchup pick recap

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers defeated Liberty Flames 71-70

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers defeated Liberty Flames 71-70 on January 2, 2025, a 1-point decision in the series. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers' strongest period was the 2nd half, when it outscored its opponent 50-35. Against SportsJaw's recorded Western Kentucky Hilltoppers +9.75 (-110) spread, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers covered, while the 141 combined points finished under the recorded total of 146.5.

SportsJaw editorial picks

  • Projected winnerNo published selectionUnavailable

Tipster picks

No graded public tipster picks were recorded for this matchup.