Wisconsin-Milwaukee vs Cleveland State 2/18/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Cleveland State Vikings will travel to UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena to take on the Milwaukee Panthers this Friday night in College Basketball action.

The Cleveland State Vikings dropped to 17-7 on the season after being defeated by the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons, 102-98 (3OT), this past Monday. Cleveland State allowed Purdue Fort Wayne to fight back from a 46-32 2^nd half deficit to force OT and the Vikings could not fight back after a Jarred Godfrey jumper gave the Mastodons a 97-95 lead with :33 seconds left in triple-OT. Cleveland State shot 49.3% from the field & 39.1% from beyond the arc while allowing Purdue Fort Wayne to shoot 45.2% from the field & 42.9% from beyond the arc. Leading the way for the Vikings was Tre Gomillion who had 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, & 2 steals.

On the season, Cleveland State is averaging 76.5 ppg on 47.6% shooting from the field. The Vikings are averaging 7.0 three-pointers per game on 34.4% shooting from beyond the arc. Offensively, Cleveland State has been led by D’Moi Hodge (16.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.4 apg, 2.3 spg), Torrey Patton (14.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.4 spg), Tre Gomillion (9.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.2 spg), & Deante Johnson (7.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.2 bpg).

Defensviely, Cleveland State is allowing their opponents to average 70.0 ppg on 41.5% shooting from the field. The Vikings have a rebound margin of 2.0 and a turnover margin of 2.5.

The Milwaukee Panthers won their 2^nd straight game and improved to 9-18 on the season after defeating the Green Bay Phoenix, 54-44, this past Sunday. Milwaukee was outstanding defensively against Green Bay and was able to pull away in the 2^nd half after 17-0 Panthers run gave Milwaukee a 44-35 lead with 4:17 left in regulation. Milwaukee shot 34.1% from the field & 29.4% from beyond the arc while holding Green Bay to just 26.0% shooting from the field & 22.7% from beyond the arc. Leading the way for the Panthers was Donovan Newby who had 17 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, & 2 steals.

On the season, Milwaukee is averaging 64.7 ppg on 41.7% shooting from the field. The Panthers are averaging 6.3 three-pointers per game on 31.3% shooting from beyond the arc. Offensively, Milwaukee has been led by DeAndre Gholston (14.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.9 apg), Patrick Baldwin Jr. (12.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.5 apg), Josh Thomas (9.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.1 apg), & Donovan Newby (8.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.0 spg). Patrick Baldwin Jr. missed the Panthers last two games and should be at best, considered questionable for this matchup.

Defensively, Milwaukee is allowing their opponents to average 70.4 ppg on 39.6% shooting from the field. The Panthers have a rebound margin of -1.1 and a turnover margin of -3.0.

The Vikings are 5-10 ATS in their last 15 games, however, are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. Milwaukee. The Panthers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games & 3-7 ATS in their last 10 Friday games.

Cleveland State is a solid team, however, the offense can struggle as the Vikings rank just 202^nd in scoring defense & 212^th in defensive FG%, and Cleveland State hasn’t been great on the road, posting just a 3-4 record. Milwaukee has been without one of their best players in Patrick Baldwin Jr., however, the Panthers have been solid as of late with wins against Wright State & Green Bay. Milwaukee ranks 22^nd in defensive FG% and as I’ve liked what I’ve seen from the Panthers over their last two games, I think the play here is to take Milwaukee and the points. Good Luck!