Cappers Sports Picks

*3 Star Play Under* The Missouri Valley Conference is a very low scoring conference overall. Most of the teams in the MVC are strong defensively and questionable on offense. 

Drake is without Nick Norton, their best passer and ball handler. Drake is still shooting the ball pretty well, but their turnover rate is up quite a bit since he has been out. The Bulldogs have also slowed their tempo by about one second per possession on average without Norton on the floor.

Evansville has played one second per possession slower in MVC play than they did in the non-conference slate. Walter McCarty's team is much better on defense than offense. Evansville ranks 280th in offensive efficiency, but they are a very solid 82nd in defensive efficiency. 

The first meeting between these two was 58-58 before overtime. After the first overtime it was 64-64. 

Drake's last three games have all stayed well under this total. Evansville has seen 6 of their last 7 games stay under this total in regulation.

Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Under* The George Washington Colonials are terrible on offense. George Washington ranks 315th in offensive efficiency according to KenPom. They were 196th last season, so they have gotten much worse.

Davidson was a great offense last year, but they lost a couple key contributors. Davidson ranked 15th in the nation in offensive efficiency last year. They are 128th so far this season.

Davidson was 120th in defensive efficiency last year, but they are up to 66th in defensive efficiency this season. 

Both teams are playing at a similar tempo this year, but they have become far less efficient on offense. 

This total has been pushed up by 4 points, and I see too much value on the under to pass it up now.

Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Under* The Bradley Braves find ways to turn games into extremely sloppy contests. Those games are very often extremely low scoring as well. This game has been bet up a few points since the opener, and at this price I'll take the under.

Illinois State is playing relatively fast, though they are playing noticeably slower than they did a year ago. The Redbirds are less efficient on offense as well, and they rarely get to the free throw line. 

Bradley ranks 295th in the nation in offensive efficiency. They are averaging only 0.853 points per possession in MVC play so far this year.

Bradley's final totals in MVC contests thus far have been: 112, 125, 111, 133, 121, and 111 points. None above this posted total. 

The last four meetings between Illinois State and Bradley have produced final totals of 118, 114, 127, and 128 points.

Take the under.