by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Dec 31, 2021
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Venue: Kaplan Arena, Williamsburg, VA
Where to watch: N/A
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Northeastern -8; O/U 127; Northeastern -425, William & Mary +320
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: Northeastern -8; O/U 127; Northeastern -417, William & Mary +320
Season record
Northeastern: 6-6 (0-1 CAA)
William & Mary: 2-12 (1-0 CAA)
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Northeastern - William & Mary preview and analysis
Recent form
Northeastern: lost two straight; lost 79-62 at Elon on Wednesday
William & Mary: won 63-62 vs. Hofstra on Wednesday
The Northeastern Huskies are in good position to snap their two-game losing streak on Friday against the William & Mary Tribe.
Northeastern has dropped two straight following a three-game winning streak that included wins over UMass and Colgate. In those three wins, the Huskies covered each against the spread; the last two have also seen NU drop both games ATS, including a 17-point loss to Elon on Wednesday.
The Huskies were 4-point favorites, only the third time in the last six. Jahmyl Telfort led the way with 16 points off the bench on 5 of 13 shootings, and Tyreek Scott-Grayson was the only starter to reach double figures with 15 points on just 4 of 11 shooting.
Northeastern shot 34 percent as a team and made only 5 of 22 from 3-point range. The defense had no answer for Elon's 51.7% shooting; the Phoenix also won while only taking five free throws and making all of them.
But if Northeastern is struggling, then William & Mary are on the level beneath that. Off to a 2-12 start, the Tribe ended a six-game losing streak on Wednesday in a 1-point victory over Hofstra thanks to a late layup from Julian Lewis with 10 seconds left.
Lewis was one of three W&M players to reach double figures. Jake Milkereit led the way with 13 points in just 23 minutes while Tyler Rice had 11 points but took 15 shots to reach it.
The Tribe's win over Hofstra was actually a major upset on the books as they got 16 points in that ATS victory. It was W&M's first ATS victory in the last eight; they lost seven straight and were off the board on two of them in the last 10.
The Northeastern Huskies are in good position to snap their two-game losing streak on Friday against the William & Mary Tribe.
Northeastern has dropped two straight following a three-game winning streak that included wins over UMass and Colgate. In those three wins, the Huskies covered each against the spread; the last two have also seen NU drop both games ATS, including a 17-point loss to Elon on Wednesday.
The Huskies were 4-point favorites, only the third time in the last six. Jahmyl Telfort led the way with 16 points off the bench on 5 of 13 shootings, and Tyreek Scott-Grayson was the only starter to reach double figures with 15 points on just 4 of 11 shooting.
Northeastern shot 34 percent as a team and made only 5 of 22 from 3-point range. The defense had no answer for Elon's 51.7% shooting; the Phoenix also won while only taking five free throws and making all of them.
But if Northeastern is struggling, then William & Mary are on the level beneath that. Off to a 2-12 start, the Tribe ended a six-game losing streak on Wednesday in a 1-point victory over Hofstra thanks to a late layup from Julian Lewis with 10 seconds left.
Lewis was one of three W&M players to reach double figures. Jake Milkereit led the way with 13 points in just 23 minutes while Tyler Rice had 11 points but took 15 shots to reach it.
The Tribe's win over Hofstra was actually a major upset on the books as they got 16 points in that ATS victory. It was W&M's first ATS victory in the last eight; they lost seven straight and were off the board on two of them in the last 10.
Prediction
This is just one of those simple matters of one team being better than the other. William & Mary has a lot to feel good about last game after what's been a rough season, but Northeastern is playing angry after last week's dud and should come back for victory this week. Northeastern by 14
Betting trends
The road team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven matchups.
The over is 4-0 in Northeastern's last four games.
William & Mary is 1-10 ATS in its last 11 as an underdog.
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
