Missouri State Bears vs Bradley Braves NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/4/25
Looking to win big? The Bears and Braves face off at 8:00 ET on CBSS. The Braves are hosting the game at Carver Arena in Peoria, IL. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 133.5 points, and Bradley is favored by -11.5 to win at home against Missouri State.
MISSOURI STATE BEARS VS BRADLEY BRAVES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Missouri State Bears +11.5
This game will be played at Carver Arena at 8:00 ET on Saturday, January 4th.
WHY BET THE MISSOURI STATE BEARS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-70 in favor of the Braves.
- Even though we have Bradley winning straight-up, we like Missouri State at +11.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 133.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Will the Bears Win in Peoria?
Missouri State’s season record fell to 5-7 after a narrow 73-72 loss to Valparaiso on Wednesday. The Bears, who were -5.5 favorites at home, failed to cover the spread.
After trailing 35-34 at halftime, Missouri State scored 38 points in the 2nd half, but also allowed 38 points. The total points for the game ended at 145, surpassing the O/U line of 139.5.
Missouri State’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, shooting 58% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 66%. They connected on 65.6% of their two-point attempts and 44.4% from beyond the arc, hitting 8 threes.
Cooper Schwieger led the way with 22 points, while Vincent Brady II added 19 on 8-of-9 shooting. Michael Osei-Bonsu contributed 15 points and 6 assists, and All Wright was nearly perfect, hitting 6 of 8 shots, including 1-for-1 from three-point range.
Missouri State’s defense struggled, giving up 73 points on 58% shooting from the field. They allowed 21 two-point baskets on 32 attempts, a 65% success rate for their opponent.
From beyond the arc, the Bears gave up 8 threes on 18 attempts, with their opponent shooting 44%. They also sent them to the line 16 times, where they made 6 free throws.
Can the Braves Secure a Win at Home?
Bradley Braves Recent Game/Games
Bradley improved to 11-2 on the season with a 90-89 win over Indiana State on Wednesday. The Braves, who were -3.5 favorites, didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 179 exceeded the O/U line of 156.5.
Bradley trailed 34-30 at halftime but turned things around in the 2nd half, scoring 52 points while allowing 48.
Bradley put up 90 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field and posting an effective field goal percentage of 57.4%. They hit 64.9% of their two-point attempts, while connecting on 32.3% from beyond the arc, making 10 threes in 31 tries. At the free-throw line, they were 12-for-15, good for 80%.
Zek Montgomery led the way with 26 points, shooting 57.9% overall and 42.9% from three. Duke Deen added 24 points, hitting 4 of 11 from deep, and Camp Wagner contributed 20 points, making 5 of 10 from three-point range.
Bradley’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 89 points despite holding their opponent to 41% shooting from the field. The Braves allowed 24 field goals on 58 attempts.
From beyond the arc, Bradley’s opponent shot 11/38 (28%). The Braves also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 36 times, where they converted 30 attempts (83%).