Youngstown St. Penguins vs
Oakland Mich Golden GrizzliesPredictions & Preview

Oakland Golden Grizzlies favored as they prepare to face Youngstown State Penguins in rematch showdown

The Oakland Golden Grizzlies will be facing off against the Youngstown State Penguins on Thursday. The two teams previously met two months ago, with the Penguins winning 66-50 as a two-point home favorite. Current odds have Oakland as the betting favorite at -5, with the line remaining unchanged. Stay tuned for the Oakland vs Youngstown State prediction.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Penguins +172 | Golden Grizzlies -210
• Spread: Penguins +5 (-110) | Golden Grizzlies -5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 138.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Oakland Mich will win straight-up is 68%.

Youngstown St. vs Oakland Mich Stats

Youngstown St. Penguins

The Youngstown State Penguins recently suffered an 84-79 home loss to IU Indianapolis, with standout performances from EJ Farmer, Cris Carroll, and Nico Galette. Farmer leads the team in scoring with 15.1 points per game, while Galette leads in rebounds, assists, and steals. Gabe Dynes has been a defensive force, ranking third in the nation with 3.0 blocks per game. Despite their offensive struggles, the Penguins have been solid on defense, ranking 131st overall. They are currently 14-10 for the season and are ranked 144th in offense and 157th in defense.Offensively, their shooting percentages rank in the 200s and 300s, but they have been strong in rebounding and assists. Defensively, they have been more solid, with good field goal and free throw percentages allowed, but struggle with defending against three-pointers. Overall, the Penguins have shown promise this season, led by key players like Farmer, Galette, and Dynes.

Oakland Mich Golden Grizzlies Analysis

Oakland University's basketball team is guided by the expertise of Hall of Fame coach Greg Kampe, who holds the title of longest-tenured coach in college basketball. Under his leadership, the Golden Grizzlies have become a formidable force in their conference, securing 710 victories throughout his career. Despite recent losses, Oakland remains a resilient competitor with a solid ranking of 185th overall by KenPom. Seniors Tuburu Naivalurua and Allen Mukeba lead the team, each averaging double-digit points and rebounds. The Golden Grizzlies face tough challenges with the 105th-rated strength of schedule in the Horizon League. Defensively, they excel in points allowed per game, ranking 97th, but struggle offensively, ranking 339th. Additionally, their shooting percentages are subpar, with room for improvement in their field goal and three-point shooting. Overall, Oakland Mich is an experienced and determined team with the potential to bounce back from recent setbacks.

Oakland Anticipated to Face Challenges Against Youngstown State's Formidable Defense

It is anticipated that Oakland may face challenges against the formidable Youngstown State defense in the upcoming game. Statistical data from BartTorvik places the Penguins as the second-best defensive team in the Horizon League, trailing only Cleveland State. Oakland's low rankings in field goal percentage and three-point shooting, at 321st and 351st respectively, suggest difficulties in scoring against Youngstown State's defensive prowess. Gabe Dynes, the Penguin's formidable presence in the paint, further reinforces this point. The previous encounter between these teams, resulting in a 66-50 victory for Youngstown State, highlighted their defensive dominance. Given these factors, it is reasonable to consider Youngstown State as a strong candidate to cover the spread in the forthcoming rematch, even with Oakland enjoying home-court advantage.

Sources: [ 2 ] [ 3 ]