NJIT Highlanders vs Butler Bulldogs Prediction, 12/22/2025 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: NJIT Highlanders vs Butler Bulldogs

Date: Monday, December 22, 2025

Location: Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN

TV: ESPN+

Hinkle Fieldhouse is where the Butler Bulldogs (8-3) will attempt to defeat the NJIT Highlanders (4-8) on Monday.

The NJIT Highlanders played Sacred Heart and walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 65-49 in their last game. NJIT ended with a 28.3% FG percentage (17 of 60) and converted 6 of their 29 3-pointers. When they shot from the free throw line, the Highlanders knocked down 9 of 14 attempts for a percentage of 64.3%. With respect to grabbing boards, they compiled 33 with 12 of them being of the offensive variety. They also recorded 10 assists for the matchup as well as forcing the other team into 8 turnovers and earning 3 steals. In relation to defending, NJIT allowed their opponent to shoot 42.9% from the floor on 24 out of 56 shooting. Sacred Heart earned 17 assists and had 6 steals in this matchup. Moreover, Sacred Heart had 35 rebounds (8 offensive, 27 defensive), but wasn't able to put a block in the stat sheet. Sacred Heart finished 78.6% when shooting free throws by burying 11 of their 14 shots. They also buried 6 out of their 18 shots from 3-point range. When discussing fouls, the Highlanders ended up with 12 and Sacred Heart finished the game with 15 fouls.

Ari Fulton is someone who was important in this matchup. He walked away from this one shooting 41.7% from the field and totaled 2 assists. He was on the hardwood for 35 minutes and collected 7 boards. He totaled 11 points on 5 of 12 shooting.

Get all of our NCAA Picks Today

NJIT will enter this contest with a mark of 4-8 so far this year. They currently have an average of 63.1 points per game (356th in college hoops) while connecting on 37.3% from the floor. The Highlanders are connecting on 31.1% on three-point shots (101 of 325) and 69.6% from the free throw line. As a unit, NJIT is snagging 34.3 boards per game and is sitting with 128 dimes so far this year, which is 337th in Division 1 in terms of passing the rock. They cough up possession 14.6 times per game and as a squad are committing 17.8 fouls on a nightly basis.

On defense, the Highlanders are forcing 10.3 turnovers per game and they draw 16.9 fouls. They currently rank 299th in Division 1 in allowing assists to their opponents with 177 conceded this year. The Highlanders defense is giving up an opponent shooting percentage of 42.9% (328 of 764) and they surrender 42.2 rebounds per contest as a unit. They give up 32.4% on shots from distance while they are 279th in the nation in PPG allowed (77.5).

The last time they took the court, the Butler Bulldogs walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 79-60 when they played Connecticut. With respect to how they attacked the glass, Butler allowed Connecticut to grab 43 in total (12 on the offensive side). They shot 35.0% from 3-point land by shooting 7 of 20 and finished the game at 8 of 13 from the charity stripe (61.5%). The Bulldogs permitted Connecticut to make 32 of their 63 attempts from the floor which had them at 50.8% for the matchup. Overall, the Bulldogs finished shooting 18 out of 61 from the floor which gave them a rate of 29.5%. When talking about shots from distance, Butler made 5 out of their 24 tries (20.8%). They were able to make 19 of them for a rate of 79.2%. Connecticut had 21 fouls for this game which took the Bulldogs to the charity stripe for a total of 24 attempts. They also turned the ball over 10 times, while getting 8 steals in the game. The Bulldogs collected 16 defensive rebounds and 11 offensive boards totaling 27 for this contest.

Drayton Jones was important for the Bulldogs in this game. He made 3 out of 5 for the game for a rate of 60.0%, and accumulated 5 rebounds. He earned 13 points in his 24 mins on the court and tallied 1 assist for the contest.

Butler has a win-loss record of 8-3 for the campaign. The Bulldogs are committing 15.4 personal fouls every game while shooting 67.3% from the charity stripe. They are dishing out assists 16.9 times per contest (68th in the country) and they turn it over 11.8 times per contest. Butler has tallied 961 points so far this season (87.4 per game) and they grab 42.1 rebounds per game. As an offensive team, the Bulldogs are connecting on 47.6% from the field, which is 89th in D-1.

The Butler defense gives up 32.5% on shots from behind the 3-point line (76 of 234) and their opposition makes 71.2% of their foul shots. They concede 13.5 assists and 35.1 rebounds on a nightly basis, which ranks them 193rd and 202nd in the country. The Bulldogs on defense are ranked 251st in college in points given up per game with 76.3. They are able to force 12.1 TO's per game and have allowed teams to shoot 43.4% from the floor (184th in college).

Who will win tonight's NCAA game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take NJIT

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Get college basketball picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.