Murray State vs Valparaiso Pick – Basketball Predictions & Odds 2/26/23

The Valparaiso Beacons and the Murray State Racers meet Sunday in college basketball action from CFSB Center. Valparaiso is 11-19 on the year so far. The Beacons lost to Bradley in their last outing. As for Murray State, they’re 15-14 overall following a loss to Missouri State on Tuesday. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.

Valparaiso Beacons

Valparaiso hit a sketchy 9-13 run over their first 22 games this year. The Beacons are just 2-6 since then, taking losses to Missouri State, Drake, Indiana State, Southern Illinois, UIC and Bradley with wins over Evansville and Illinois State otherwise. 

In the Bradley matchup on Wednesday, the Beacons took a 42-30 deficit into the second half. Valparaiso got better on a 36-34 run from there but still lost 76-66. Ben Krikke led the team on 17 points and Quinton Green added 16 points with seven rebounds. 

Murray State Racers

Over on the Murray State side, they managed a 12-10 record in their first 22 outings this year. The Racers are on a 3-4 stretch in the last seven with losses to Indiana State, Drake, Bradley and Missouri State during that time. 

Matched up against Missouri State on Tuesday, Murray State was down 46-34 in the locker room. The Racers were outscored 38-35 in the second half and limped to an 84-69 defeat. Rob Perry was tops on 20 points and five rebounds. 

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll lean Murray State here, but I’m probably staying away from it. The Racers looked pretty rough in the Missouri State game on Tuesday, and they’re a rough 2-4 in the last six outings. Murray State has still been scoring reasonably well overall with 68 points or more in four of their last five outings, but they’re just 2-3 in those games. These teams last played way back on December 4 in a 77-70 win for Murray State at Athletics-Recreation Center. Valparaiso should be able to put up a decent fight in this one but I don’t think they’ll cover in the end.