The Lipscomb Bisons (28-7) will be 1-point underdogs in the NIT at Madison Square Garden when they square off against the Wichita State Shockers (22-14). The game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 150.5 points and it will air on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.
Wichita State Shockers vs. Lipscomb Bisons Betting Odds
Both teams were victorious in their last game. The Bisons edged the 23rd-ranked North Carolina State Wolfpack 94-93, while the Shockers defeated the 25th-ranked Indiana Hoosiers 73-63.
Wichita State dominated nearly every facet of the game. They had a ridiculous free throw rate of 0.327 (above their season average of 0.207) and an effective field goal percentage of 0.500 (above their season average of 0.470). For those same stats, Indiana put up marks of 0.108 and 0.431, respectively. The Bisons, on the other hand, knocked down 12 of their 17 free throws (70.6 percent) and had a turnover percentage of 12.7 (better than their season average of 16.0). Lipscomb’s Garrison Mathews led the way, putting up 44 points and eight rebounds. Dexter Dennis played a pivotal role for Wichita State with 17 points and six blocks.
Vegas has typically been fairly accurate when setting the O/U total of Shockers games, with 19 unders compared to 16 overs. Wichita State comes into the contest with records of 22-14 straight up (SU) and 21-14-1 against the spread (ATS).
Of the Bisons’ 32 games with betting action, 16 have finished over the projected point total. Moreover, Lipscomb is 28-7 SU and 18-14 ATS.
The Shockers’ Markis McDuffie has been playing well over his last five games, averaging 21 points,5.4 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Garrison Mathews has averaged 21 points,6.6 rebounds during that same time frame for the Bisons.
This battle pits one of the NCAA’s top offenses against one of its elite defenses as Lipscomb currently ranks 13th in effective field goal percentage (0.560) and Wichita State is 45th in effective field goal percentage allowed (0.477). Moreover, the Shockers rank 50th in offensive rebounding percentage (32.7 percent), while the Bisons rank 11th in defensive rebounding percentage (77.0 percent).
Wichita State vs. Lipscomb Betting Pick
Basketball Pick: SU Winner – Lipscomb, ATS Winner – Wichita State, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- Lipscomb ranks 51st in steals per game (7.4) while Wichita State ranks 257th (4.7).
- The Bisons average 37.2 rebounds per game, which ranks 77th in the country. The Shockers rank 163rd in rebounds allowed per game (35.0).
- Wichita State averages 3.6 blocks per game, which ranks 108th in the country. Lipscomb ranks 183rd in blocks allowed per game (3.7).
- The Bisons rank seventh in assists per game (17.6) while the Shockers rank 141st (13.6).
- Wichita State averages 24.1 three pointers per game, which ranks 92nd in the NCAA. Lipscomb ranks 206th in three pointers allowed per game (23.3).
Bettings Trends:
- During their last five games, the Shockers have scored an average of 71.0 points per game (0.3 above their season average) and allowed an average of 65.6 points per game (3.0 below their season average).
- The Bisons’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 8.6, down from 13.9 for the season.
