Murray State Racers vs Evansville Aces NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/29/25
Looking to win big? The Racers and Aces face off at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The Aces are hosting the game at Ford Center in Evansville, IN. Murray State is favored by -5 in this Missouri Valley conference showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 131.5 points.
MURRAY STATE RACERS VS EVANSVILLE ACES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Evansville Aces +5
This game will be played at Ford Center at 8:00 ET on Wednesday, January 29th.
WHY BET THE EVANSVILLE ACES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-69 in favor of the Aces.
- Not only will Evansville pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 131.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.
Will the Racers Live Up to Expectations on the Road?
Murray State Racers Recent Game/Games
The Racers fell to 10-10 on the season after a 95-77 home loss to Belmont on Saturday. Murray State entered the game as 4-point favorites but failed to cover the spread.
After trailing 55-37 at halftime, the Racers played Belmont even in the 2nd half, with both teams scoring 40 points. The total points for the game reached 172, surpassing the O/U line of 150.5.
Murray State put up 77 points in their latest game, shooting 50% from the field and hitting 37% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 58.6%, thanks in part to a strong 61.3% shooting performance inside the arc. They also grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and dished out 13 assists.
Drew Scharnowski led the Racers with 20 points and 8 rebounds in just 18 minutes, shooting 7-for-9 from the field. JaCobi Wood added 19 points, hitting 5-of-8 from three-point range, and contributed 6 assists. Carter Whitt also had 6 assists, finishing with 17 points despite shooting 5-for-15 overall.
The Racers’ defense struggled in their last game, allowing 95 points on 50% shooting from the field. Murray State gave up 61% shooting on two-point attempts, with the opposing team hitting 19 of 31 shots.
From beyond the arc, the Racers allowed 10 threes on 27 attempts, a 37% shooting rate. They also sent the other team to the line 15 times, where they made 9 free throws. Murray State allowed 15 offensive rebounds.
Will Evansville Make it Happen at Home?
Evansville Aces Recent Game/Games
Evansville improved to 6-14 on the season with a 78-68 win over Valparaiso on Saturday. The Aces were +7 point underdogs going into the game and not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.
Evansville led 44-26 at halftime but allowed 42 points in the 2nd half while scoring 34. The total points for the game ended at 146, going over the pre-game line of 140.5.
Evansville’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 78 points with a 58% field goal percentage. Their effective field goal percentage was even more impressive at 68%, thanks to hitting 62.5% of their threes (10/16) and 55.9% of their twos (19/34). They also connected on 83.3% of their free throws, going 10/12 from the line.
Tanner Cuff led the way with 22 points, shooting 66.7% from the field. Gabriel Pozzato added 21 points, hitting 3 of 5 from deep (60%), while Tayshawn Comer knocked down 4 of 5 threes (80%) on his way to 17 points. Connor Turnbull was nearly perfect, making 5 of 6 shots overall and hitting his only three-point attempt.
Evansville’s defense held their opponent to 68 points on 38% shooting from the field. They allowed 19 two-point baskets on 41 attempts, a 46% conversion rate.
From beyond the arc, Evansville gave up 8 threes on 29 attempts, with their opponent shooting 27%. They also sent them to the free-throw line 13 times, where they made 6, shooting 46%.