Missouri State vs Valparaiso 3/4/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Valparaiso Crusaders and Missouri State Bears meet Friday in the college basketball MVC Tournament Quarterfinal at the Enterprise Center. The Valparaiso Crusaders look for a win after splitting their last six games. The Missouri State Bears look for a win after winning five of their last six games.

The Valparaiso Crusaders are averaging 70.8 points on 45.9 percent shooting and allowing 71 points on 45.7 percent shooting. Ben Krikke is averaging 14.5 points and 4.6 rebounds, while Kobe King is averaging 14.2 points and 4.5 rebounds. Kevion Taylor is the third double-digit scorer and Sheldon Edwards is grabbing 3.9 rebounds. The Valparaiso Crusaders are shooting 33.4 percent from beyond the arc and 75.2 percent from the free throw line. The Valparaiso Crusaders are allowing 35.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 29.1 rebounds per game.

The Missouri State Bears are averaging 77.8 points on 48.5 percent shooting and allowing 68.3 points on 42 percent shooting. Isiaih Mosley is averaging 20 points and 6.2 rebounds, while Gaige Prim is averaging 16.3 points and 7.7 rebounds. Jaylen Minnett is grabbing 1.4 rebounds and Ja’Monta Black is grabbing 3.3 rebounds. The Missouri State Bears are shooting 37.9 percent from beyond the arc and 79.5 percent from the free throw line. The Missouri State Bears are allowing 33.5 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 32.8 rebounds per game.

The Beacons are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games as an underdog. The Bears are 35-16-2 ATS in their last 53 games as a favorite and 6-2-2 ATS in their last 10 neutral site games. The over is 8-2 in Beacons last 10 overall. The over is 5-0 in Bears last 5 overall. The favorite is 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings.

The Missouri State Bears comfortably beat Valparaiso twice this season, and they’ve been clearly the better team overall this season. The Valparaiso Beacons have had issues against better teams this season, and they lose in the underdog role by an average of 8.1 points. Missouri State has been money in the favorite role dating back to last season. Thick line, but give me the Bears.