Mercer Bears (8-11) vs. VMI Keydets (5-14)
January 19, 2023 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: VMI Keydets +3.5 / Mercer Bears -3.5; Over/Under: +145.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Mercer Bears and VMI Keydets meet Thursday in college basketball action at the Cameron Hall. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
The Mercer Bears Preview
The Mercer Bears are averaging 71.3 points on 46.9 percent shooting and allowing 69.4 points on 43.3 percent shooting. Jalyn McCreary is averaging 14.5 points and 5.4 rebounds, while Kamar Robinson is averaging 12.4 points and 1.8 assists. Luis Hurtado Jr. is dishing 4.5 assists and Shawn Walker Jr. is dishing 2.2 assists. The Mercer Bears are shooting 36.1 percent from beyond the arc and 71 percent from the free throw line. The Mercer Bears are allowing 35.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 30.9 rebounds per game.
The VMI Keydets Preview
The VMI Keydets are averaging 73.2 points on 44.1 percent shooting and allowing 76.3 points on 46.2 percent shooting. Asher Woods is averaging 14.8 points and 4.6 rebounds, while Sean Conway is averaging 14.6 points and 5.8 rebounds. Tyler Houser is the third double-digit scorer and Tony Felder is dishing 3.5 assists. The VMI Keydets are shooting 38.2 percent from beyond the arc and 76.3 percent from the free throw line. The VMI Keydets are allowing 35.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 32.6 rebounds per game.
Trends
The Bears are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 Thursday games and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall. The Keydets are 21-10 ATS in their last 31 home games and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Thursday games. The under is 4-1 in Bears last 5 overall. The over is 22-10 in Keydets last 32 overall. The home team is 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings.
Randy’s Free Pick
The VMI Keydets are a bad team that’s getting worse by the week, as they’re losing their last 5 games by an average of 12.8 points while allowing 50.4 percent shooting. While the Mercer Bears have issues of their own, they at least have a positive point differential on the season. I’ll lay the small chalk. VMI is in far worse shape.
