The Bulldogs will try to cover the spread at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Sunday when they get a visit from the Youngstown State Penguins in college basketball action.

The Penguins will try to spoil to the party on Sunday; they are 6-6 ATS against the number this season, while the Bulldogs are 2-11-2 ATS. Youngstown State is 7-4-1 on the totals; Butler is 9-6.



View Youngstown State vs Butler Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
The Penguins are listed as 8-point underdogs at many online sportsbooks.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Power Rankings at Odds Shark show No. 231-rated Youngstown State taking on the No. 100-rated Bulldogs in this contest. The scores prediction computer here indicates a possible 67-65 win for the Penguins on Sunday.



How They Match Up:
Rebounding is always a key handicapping consideration and Penguins is ranked No. 258 in NCAA hoops at 33.2 per game. Contrast that with Butler’s No. 168 mark in the paint. When it comes to three-point shooting, Butler is the No. 176-ranked team in the country at 6.2 per game, while Youngstown State rates No. 7 at 9.2 per game.

Defensively, Youngstown State features the nation's No. 231-rated defense on the road, allowing 73.1 points per game. Butler, meanwhile, comes in at No. 307 nationally in scoring at home.

Youngstown State was a 76-62 loser in their most recent outing on the road against Valparaiso. They failed to cover the 6-point spread as underdogs. The Penguins endured a 76-62 loss at the hands of the Crusaders on Friday, despite a 16-point effort from Kendrick Perry at Athletics-Recreation Center.

Last time out for Butler, they were a 76-69 loser as they battled Cleveland State at home. They failed to cover in the match as a 3-point favorite. The Bulldogs endured a 76-69 loss at the hands of the Vikings on Friday, despite a 13-point effort from Andrew Smith at Hinkle Fieldhouse.


Youngstown State Penguins Trends:
When playing on Sunday are 2-8
Before playing Wisc-Milwaukee are 4-6
After playing Valparaiso are 1-9
After a loss are 4-6

Butler Bulldogs Trends:
When playing on Sunday are 8-2
Before playing Illinois-Chicago are 10-0
After playing Cleveland State are 9-1
After a loss are 6-4

A few Penguins at Bulldogs trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Youngstown State's last 6 games when playing on the road against Butler
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Youngstown State's last 5 games on the road
Youngstown State is 4-21 SU in its last 25 games on the road
Youngstown State is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Butler
Butler is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Youngstown State
Butler is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games when playing Youngstown State
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Butler's last 6 games when playing at home against Youngstown State
Butler is 20-5 SU in its last 25 games at home


Next up:
Youngstown State home to Wisc-Milwaukee, Friday, January 20
Butler at Illinois-Chicago, Thursday, January 19