Drake vs Valparaiso 12/29/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Valparaiso Crusaders and Drake Bulldogs meet Thursday in college basketball action at The Knapp Center. The Valparaiso Crusaders look to get back to a .500 record. The Drake Bulldogs look for their 11th win.

The Valparaiso Crusaders are averaging 70.2 points on 44.5 percent shooting and allowing 74.2 points on 43.5 percent shooting. Ben Krikke is averaging 18.3 points and 6.1 rebounds, while Kobe King is averaging 17.6 points and 3.5 rebounds. Quinton Green is the third double-digit scorer and Nick Edwards is grabbing 3.4 rebounds. The Valparaiso Crusaders are shooting 30.6 percent from beyond the arc and 70.2 percent from the free throw line. The Valparaiso Crusaders are allowing 33.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 31.7 rebounds per game.

The Drake Bulldogs are averaging 75.8 points on 46.6 percent shooting and allowing 65 points on 40.3 percent shooting. Tucker Devries is averaging 18.7 points and 5.9 rebounds, while Roman Penn is averaging 11.3 points and 3.8 assists. Garrett Sturtz is grabbing 6.1 rebounds and Sardaar Calhoun is grabbing 2 rebounds. The Drake Bulldogs are shooting 34.4 percent from beyond the arc and 77.1 percent from the free throw line. The Drake Bulldogs are allowing 29.3 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 33.4 rebounds per game.

The Beacons are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 road games and 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games overall. The Bulldogs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall. The over is 3-0-1 in Beacons last 4 overall. The under is 11-2 in Bulldogs last 13 home games. The underdog is 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings.

The Valparaiso Beacons don’t win games or cover numbers, and they’re on the road, where they lose by an average of 21.4 points. The Drake Bulldogs have been great defensively, and they’re at home, where they win by an average of 25.7 points. The Drake Bulldogs should have little trouble pulling away. I’ll lay the chalk.