Valparaiso Crusaders (13-4 SU, 7-7 ATS, 6-8 O/U) at Cleveland State Vikings (5-12 SU, 4-11 ATS, 8-7 O/U)
When and Where: Saturday, Jan. 14, Wolstein Center, Cleveland, Oh., 3:30pmET
Line: Valpo -5.5
Total: 133.5
Valpo has opened up 3-1 in the Horizon League after beating Youngstown State on the road, 78-62 on Thursday. Cleveland State has lost three straight games to open at 1-4 in the Horizon. They fell to UIC on Thursday, 59-54 at home.
Peters leads Crusaders against Penguins
Alec Peters scored 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead Valpo over Cleveland State on Thursday. Shane Hammink added 15 points and four rebounds in 20 minutes. The Crusaders pretty much cruised to this win on the road, going up by 11 at the half and outscoring the Vikings, 37-32 in the second half. The Crusaders shot 46.8 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Vikings by 21. They held Youngstown State to just 41.8 percent from the field.
Peters lead the way for the Crusaders with 23.8 points per game and 10.7 rebounds. Valpo averages 76.2 points per game and shoots 43.4 percent from the floor (30.7% 3pt). They also rank third in the nation in free throw percent age (80.1%). They allow 71.6 points per game and 42.7 percent from the field.
Flames extinguish Vikings
Illinois-Chicago turned the ball over 20 times, shot 54.5 percent (12-22) from the free throw line and shot just 42.9 percent from the floor. But they managed to beat Cleveland State on the road Thursday night in a sloppy affair. The Vikings were led by Rob Edwards, who scored 13 points on 4-of-9 shooting. But Cleveland State shot just 39.2 percent from the floor, shot 7-of-15 from the line and turned it over 19 times. They were also outrebounded by eight.
Edwards leads the Vikings in scoring with 14.5 points per game and 4.1 rebounds. This is a poor rebounding team that shoots just 41.4 percent from the floor and 30.3 percent from beyond the arc, while averaging 66.4 points per game. Their defense is slightly bettter, allowing 72.5 points per game and 45. 3 percent from the field (36.2% 3pt).
College Basketball Trends:
Valpo is:
- 5-1 ATS last 6 road games.
- 6-2 ATS last 8 Saturday games.
Cleveland State is:
- 1-5 ATS last 6 Saturday games.
- 5-11-1 ATS last 17 vs. Horizon League.
The favorite in this series is 12-5-1 ATS last 18. Cleveland State can’t even beat UIC at home. Valpo is at another level and should destroy the Vikings at home, on the road or at a neutral site.