The La Salle Explorers (4-4) will be at home in Tom Gola Arena when they go head-to-head with the Mercer Bears (6-4). The Over/Under (O/U) for the game has been set at 140 points with La Salle opening as a 3-point favorite. Action gets underway at 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 17, 2017.
Mercer Bears at La Salle Explorers Odds Preview
In the Bears last matchup, they dismantled the Florida A&M Rattlers, 82-64. With 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, Mercer’s Stephon Jelks put together a good game. Mercer played a nearly flawless game. They had a free throw rate of 0.269 (matching their season average) and an offensive rebounding percentage of 40.7 (above their season average of 31.2). Florida A&M was 0.118 and 18.8, respectively, for those same stats.
The Explorers are trying to rebound after their 77-68 loss to the No. 4 Villanova Wildcats in their last matchup. B.J. Johnson was the games leading scorer with 21 points on 9-for-20 shooting. Villanova did a terrific job of converting from the free throw line (27-35; 77.1 percent). La Salle, on the other hand, held the Wildcats to an effective field goal percentage of 0.490 (below their season average of 0.587).
It could be a tough game for La Salle on the offensive glass. The Explorers rank 287th in offensive rebounding percentage (25.7 percent), while Mercer ranks 62nd in defensive rebounding percentage (72.4 percent) since last season. Additionally, the 22nd-ranked offense of the Bears (offensive efficiency of 113.4) will attempt to exploit the 300th-ranked defense of the Explorers (defensive efficiency of 109.2).
Of Mercer’s 6 games that accepted bets, four have finished over the O/U total, while 6 of La Salle’s 11 games have finished over the O/U total. The Bears have the better straight up (SU) record (6-4 vs. 4-4), but the Explorers hold the substantial advantage against the spread (ATS) (5-5-1 vs. 2-3-1).
The Explorers won the only game against the Bears last season, 98-96. The Explorers played a nearly perfect game. They had a superb free throw rate of 0.286 and a superb turnover percentage of 8.9. For those same stats, the Bears put up marks of 0.211 and 9.6, respectively.
Mercer Bears vs. La Salle Explorers Betting Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Mercer, ATS Winner – Mercer, O/U – Over
Betting Notes (2016-Present):
- The Explorers rank 47th in blocks allowed per game (2.8) while the Bears rank 130th (3.4).
- Mercer ranks 13th in steals allowed per game (5.4) while La Salle ranks 66th (5.8).
- Mercer ranks 46th in assists per game (14.2) while La Salle ranks 176th in assists allowed per game (14.6).
- The Explorers average 23.1 three pointers per game, which ranks 102nd in the NCAA. The Bears rank 230th in three pointers allowed per game (24.7).
- Mercer ranks fifth in rebounds allowed per game (30.8) while La Salle ranks 96th (33.8).
