The Evansville Aces (16-13, 6-10 MVC) will travel to Hulman Center to square off against the Indiana State Sycamores (11-17, 6-10 MVC) in their home finale. The game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 134.5 points with Indiana State opening as a 5-point favorite. Action starts at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 21, 2018.
Evansville Aces vs. Indiana State Sycamores Free Preview
The Aces fell to the Loyola Chicago Ramblers in their last game, 76-66. With 27 points on 10-for-23 shooting, Ryan Taylor was the game’s leading scorer. Loyola Chicago held the Aces to an offensive rebounding percentage of 13.3 (below their season average of 25.7). Evansville, on the other hand, forced the Ramblers into a turnover percentage of 26.3 (above their season average of 17.4).
The last time the Sycamores played, they were defeated by the Southern Illinois Salukis, 76-72. Qiydar Davis was the game’s leading scorer with 18 points on 4-for-8 shooting. Southern Illinois held the Sycamores to an effective field goal percentage of 0.439 (below their season average of 0.511). Indiana State, on the other hand, held the Salukis to an offensive rebounding percentage of 15.6 (below their season average of 26.3).
It could be an error-filled game for the Indiana State offense. Indiana State ranks 296th in the NCAA in ball protection (turnover percentage of 20.8 percent), while the pesky defense of Evansville forces the 59th-most turnovers in the nation (21.3 percent). Furthermore, the Aces, who rank 287th in offensive rebounding percentage (25.3 percent), will go head-to-head against the Sycamores, who rank 26th in defensive rebounding percentage (75.7 percent).
These two teams are complete opposites in terms of the O/U total. Games including Evansville have finished under 64.0 percent of the time, while 73.1 percent of Indiana State games have finished over.
The Aces come into this game with a sizable advantage in terms of straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) records. They are 16-13 SU and 15-10 ATS, while the Sycamores are 11-17 SU and 10-14-2 ATS.
These teams have already met once this season. In that game, the two teams combined to score 137 points, which was over the projected point total of 131. The Sycamores won 71-66, covering as 5-point underdogs. Indiana State had a much better offensive rebounding percentage (32.5 vs. 21.1). Evansville, meanwhile, had a better turnover percentage (18.1 vs. 23.1). Dru Smith scored a game-high 23 points.
Evansville Aces vs. Indiana State Sycamores Betting Prediction
College Basketball Pick: SU Winner – Indiana State, ATS Winner – Indiana State, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The Aces rank 176th in assists per game (13.1) while the Sycamores rank 239th (11.8).
- Indiana State ranks 131st in blocks per game (3.3) while Evansville ranks 168th in blocks allowed per game (4.1).
- Evansville is 8-5 ATS on the road, while Indiana State is 4-7-1 ATS at home.
- Of the Aces’ 13 road games, they have 9 unders and 4 overs.
- The Sycamores have 9 overs and 3 unders in 12 home games.
- Indiana State ranks 92nd in three pointers attempted per game (23.6) while Evansville ranks 314th (13.6).
- The Sycamores average 7.7 steals per game, which ranks 28th in the nation. The Aces rank 205th in steals allowed per game (7.4).
- Evansville ranks 31st in rebounds allowed per game (31.6) while Indiana State ranks 140th (34.4).
Bettings Trends:
- Indiana State is 1-4 ATS with 5 overs in their last five games.
- Over their last five games, Evansville is 3-2 ATS with 3 unders and 2 overs.
- The Sycamores’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 6.0, up from 0.2 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Aces have scored an average of 59.2 points per game (6.9 below their season average) and allowed an average of 65.8 points per game (0.9 above their season average).
