Valparaiso Beacons vs Indiana State Sycamores NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 2/5/25
Looking to win big? The Beacons and Sycamores face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Sycamores are hosting the game at Hulman Center in Terre Haute, IN. The over/under for this game is set at 160 points, and Indiana State is favored by -5 vs. Valparaiso in a Missouri Valley conference matchup.
VALPARAISO BEACONS VS INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Indiana State Sycamores -5
This game will be played at Hulman Center at 7:00 ET on Wednesday, February 5th.
WHY BET THE INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-70 in favor of the Sycamores.
- Not only will Indiana State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 160 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.
Will the Beacons Win on the Road?
Valparaiso Beacons Recent Game/Games
Valparaiso dropped to 8-13 on the season after an 86-78 road loss to Illinois State on Saturday. Entering the game as +7.5 point underdogs, the Beacons not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.
Valparaiso trailed 45-38 at halftime and couldn’t make up the difference in the second half, scoring 40 points while allowing 41. The total points for the game reached 164, surpassing the pre-game O/U line of 144.5.
Valparaiso put up 78 points in their last game, shooting 48.3% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 56.9%. They hit 37% from beyond the arc, going 10-for-27, and were nearly perfect at the free-throw line, making 12 of 13 attempts.
Chase Walker led the way with 24 points, shooting 81.8% from the field and adding 7 assists. Dalton Banks contributed 17 points on 77.8% shooting, while Johnny Kinziger added 15 points and 6 assists, hitting 3 of 7 from three-point range.
Valparaiso’s defense struggled, giving up 86 points on 56% shooting. They allowed 33 field goals on 58 attempts.
From two-point range, the Beacons allowed 22 baskets on 31 attempts, a 71% shooting percentage. They also gave up 11 threes on 27 attempts, with the opponent shooting 40% from beyond the arc.
Can the Sycamores Lock in a Home Win?
Indiana State Sycamores Recent Game/Games
Indiana State improved to 9-12 on the season after a 88-83 road win over UIC on Saturday. The Sycamores entered the game as +8 point underdogs and not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.
Indiana State led 52-41 at halftime, but allowed 42 points in the 2nd half while scoring 36. The game’s total points of 171 went over the pre-game line of 162.5.
Indiana State put up 88 points in their last game, shooting 44.4% from the field and 40.7% from beyond the arc, connecting on 11 threes. Their effective field goal percentage was 54%, and they hit 72.4% of their free throws, going 21-for-29 from the line. The Sycamores also pulled down 16 offensive rebounds and dished out 20 assists.
Camp Wagner led the way with 22 points, hitting 5-of-9 from three and shooting 58.3% overall. Filip Skobalj and Ahmad Henderson II each added 20 points, with Skobalj knocking down 4 threes at a 50% clip. Samage Teel contributed 7 assists and 8 rebounds, while Aaron Gray grabbed 10 boards and shot 62.5% from the field.
Despite giving up 83 points, Indiana State’s defense held their opponent to 41% shooting from the field, with 29 made shots on 70 attempts. Inside the arc, the Sycamores allowed 20 two-point baskets on 41 attempts, a 48% shooting rate.
From three-point range, Indiana State’s defense limited their opponent to 9 threes on 29 attempts, a 31% success rate. They also sent the opposing team to the free-throw line 19 times, where they converted 16, shooting 84%. The Sycamores gave up 11 offensive rebounds.