Valparaiso Beacons vs Bradley Braves NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/29/24

Looking to win big? The Beacons and Braves face off at 4:00 ET on ESPN+. The Braves are hosting the game at Carver Arena in Peoria, IL. The over/under for this game is set at 150.5 points, and Bradley is favored by -13.5 vs. Valparaiso in a Missouri Valley conference matchup.

VALPARAISO BEACONS VS BRADLEY BRAVES BETTING PICK

The Pick: Valparaiso Beacons +13.5

This game will be played at Carver Arena at 4:00 ET on Sunday, December 29th.

WHY BET THE VALPARAISO BEACONS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-71 in favor of the Braves.
• Even though we have Bradley winning straight-up, we like Valparaiso at +13.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 150.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.

Will the Beacons Pull Through as the Away Underdog?

Valparaiso evened their record at 5-5 with a 76-73 win over Western Michigan on Friday. The Beacons, who were +1.5 point underdogs, not only pulled off the road win but also covered the spread. The game’s total points of 149 fell short of the 153.5 O/U line.

Valparaiso’s comeback was fueled by a dominant 2nd half, where they outscored the Broncos 50-31 after trailing 42-26 at halftime.

Valparaiso put up 76 points in their last game, shooting 46% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 50.8%. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 5 of 18 attempts for a 27.8% rate, while connecting on 53.3% of their two-point shots. At the free-throw line, they made 13 of 19 attempts, good for 68.4%.

Cooper Schwieger led the Beacons with 19 points, shooting 77.8% overall. Chansey Willis Jr. contributed 16 points and 7 assists, while Owen Lobsinger added 14 points, hitting both of his three-point attempts. Valparaiso recorded just 6 assists as a team, but grabbed 11 offensive rebounds.

Valparaiso’s defense gave up 73 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 45% from the field. Inside the arc, they allowed 54% shooting, as the other team hit 27 of 50 two-point attempts.

From three-point range, Valparaiso held their opponents to 22% shooting, with just 4 made threes on 18 attempts. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 14 times, where they made 7 shots for 50%.

Can the Braves Deliver Being Favored at Home?

Bradley Braves Recent Game/Games

Bradley improved to 9-2 on the season with a dominant 92-59 win over Canisius on Saturday. Playing at home, the Braves entered the game as -24.5 favorites and covered the spread with ease. The total points for the game reached 151, surpassing the O/U line of 141.5.

Bradley took control early, leading 48-30 at halftime. They continued their strong play in the 2nd half, outscoring Canisius 44-29 to close out the game.

Bradley’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 92 points with a 57.7% field goal percentage. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 69.2%, thanks to 69.2% shooting from two-point range and 46.2% from beyond the arc. They also hit 83.3% of their free throws, going 20-for-24 from the line.

Paul McMillan IV led the way with 26 points, while Darius Hannah added 16. Jasman Sangha contributed 14 points, shooting 63.6% from the field, and Duke Deen knocked down 4-of-6 threes, finishing with 12 points and 5 assists. Corey Thomas was perfect from the field, hitting all 4 of his shots in just 14 minutes of action.

Bradley’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 59 points while allowing the opposing team to shoot 57% from the field. They were particularly vulnerable inside, where they allowed 69% shooting on two-point attempts (18/26).

From beyond the arc, Bradley’s opponents hit 12 of 26 threes, good for 46%. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 24 times, where they converted 20 of those attempts (83%). Bradley gave up 9 offensive rebounds in the game.