Cleveland State vs PFW 1/5/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Fort Wayne Mastodons and the Cleveland State Vikings meet Wednesday in college basketball action from Wolstein Center. Fort Wayne is 5-6 so far this year. As for Cleveland State, they’re sitting at 7-3. This will be a rematch of the December 30 game, which the Vikings won by nine points. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.

Fort Wayne managed a 4-4 run over their first eight games with wins over Earlham, Austin Peay, Southeastern Louisiana and Northern Kentucky. After a loss to SIU Edwardsville and a win over Southeast Missouri State, the Mastodons lost to Cleveland State. 

In the December 30 game versus the Vikings, Fort Wayne had a four-point edge at halftime but ultimately fell 90-81. Leading scorer Damian Chong Qui put up 18 points, while both Jalon Pipkins and Deonte Billups added 15 points apiece. 

Over on the Cleveland State side, they hit a pretty solid 6-2 clip over their first eight games. The Vikings beat Edinboro, Canisius, Coppin State, Penn State-Behrend, Northern Kentucky and Wright State in that time. Cleveland State then lost to OK State before the Fort Wayne win. 

Matched up against the Mastodons on December 30, the Vikings posted a 52-39 edge in the second half to pull off the comeback win. Torrey Patton doubled up for Cleveland State with 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. 

The Vikings are 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 at home and 4-1 ATS in their last five after a straight-up win. Cleveland State is 16-5 ATS in their last 21 after an ATS loss. 

Meanwhile, the Mastodons are 5-2 ATS in their last seven road games and 0-4 ATS in their last four Wednesday games. The under is 6-0 in Fort Wayne’s last six Wednesday games. 

PICK: I’m going to stick with Cleveland State. The Vikings shot well the last time these teams met up, hitting 53.6 percent from the field with 32 rebounds and 16 team assists. That said, Fort Wayne was pretty hot on offense themselves with 50 percent from the field and 43.3 percent from 3-point range. 

Cleveland State carried a rebounding advantage 32-24 and a turnover advantage 8-16 in the last matchup. I think it’s going to be that strength on the boards that carries the Vikings to a cover here. Should be another fun game to watch.