Merrimack vs Butler Prediction College Basketball Picks 11/22/24

The Merrimack Warriors and the Butler Bulldogs meet Friday in college basketball action from Hinkle Fieldhouse. Here’s a Merrimack vs Butler prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Merrimack vs Butler pick. We will examine:

The Merrimack Warriors’ recent form and player performance

The Butler Bulldogs’ recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Merrimack Warriors

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Butler Bulldogs

Recent betting trends in games played between Merrimack and Butler

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Merrimack vs Butler game

Merrimack Warriors Betting Preview

The Warriors got off to a sketchy 1-2 start through their first three games despite a 65-51 win over Vermont in the opener. Merrimack would lose the next pair 63-42 to VCU and 68-57 against Princeton.

In Wednesday’s matchup versus Rutgers, the Warriors took a seven-point deficit into the break and didn’t end up getting any closer in an eventual loss of 74-63. Adam Clark was the team’s leading scorer with 22 points and six assists alongside four rebounds.

Butler Bulldogs Betting Preview

Over on the Butler side, they’ve done a pretty decent job through four games so far. The Bulldogs’ lone blemish was a 68-66 loss to Austin Peay on November 8. Butler beat Missouri State and Western Michigan otherwise over their first three games.

Butler took on SMU in their most recent matchup last Friday. The Bulldogs held a three-point edge going into the second half, then hit a 45-37 run the rest of the way for an 81-70 win. Jahmyl Telfort led the team with 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

Why the Butler Bulldogs will win

• Merrimack has lost each of its last seven road night games against non-conference opponents.
• Butler has won 52 of its last 56 night games against non-conference opponents at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
• Merrimack has lost the first half in six of its last seven road night games against non-conference opponents.

Why the Merrimack Warriors will win

• Butler has lost each of its last three games when playing with a rest advantage.
• Merrimack has won seven of its last nine night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Merrimack vs Butler Prediction

I’ll stick with Butler. The Bulldogs posted a pretty good effort versus SMU in their last outing, hitting 41 percent from the field and 46.2 percent (12-of-26) from long range. Butler did get out-rebounded 40-39 and had 13 turnovers, though. Still, the Bulldogs have been scoring well with 72 or more points in all three wins.

As for Merrimack, on Wednesday they shot poorly from outside (16.7 percent on 4-of-24) and got outmuscled 45-32 on the boards by Rutgers. The Warriors’ defense wasn’t bad though, and they only posted nine turnovers. All things considered though, if Butler plays to their capabilities I like the Bulldogs to power out the cover with an up-tempo game on Friday.