Wichita State vs. Evansville Jan. 13 Free Betting Pick
Wichita State and Evansville are the last two Missouri Valley teams to tip-off this weekend. The 15-1 Shockers visit the Purple Aces who have won three straight conference games. Despite another game without their floor leader and second-leading scorer, Carl Hall, Wichita State is opening as a three point road favorite in this conference clash. You can find all the lines and prices if you check out our college basketball bookies page.
Free Pick
This matchup appears to be what many people consider a type of “trap” line, with the generally-accepted better side (in this case Wichita) a slight road favorite against the lesser side (Evansville). Evansville is a top-half team when you are talking just within the Valley. They are even better at home, where the Aces have won five of their last six games. So is there reason to lay the points on the road with the Shockers?
Evansville is a top-half team in the Missouri Valley. That being said, Wichita State is a top tier side – along with Creighton. The Shockers are now nationally ranked and have been winning despite some major injuries. Wichita State brings tenacity and a nastiness on the defensive end of the floor and their Junior swingman Cleanthony Early is bursting onto the scene. Early has emerged as the Shockers’ leading-scorer with an all-around game and a level of athleticism that is seldomly matched in Missouri Valley play. Aside from Early, Wichita State is just a pretty well-oiled machine that plays incredibly unselfish basketball. Every player on the roster averages double-digit minutes per game – an incredible statistic that is inflated due to injuries, but nonetheless true. Since their first lined game against Virginia Commonwealth, the Shockers have failed to break the 1.00 PPP (points per possession) barrier only twice. On the other side of the ball, they have kept opponents under 1.00 PPP in 10 of their 13 lined games on the year.
The Purple Aces await the Wichita attack with a 10-man rotation that features wingman Colt Ryan (15.9 PPG). He will likely see a bevy of defenders thrown at him throughout the afternoon – including the 6’8″ Early. In order to win this game, Evansville will need to get more production from the free-throw line. The Aces have averaged just 15 attempts per game in lined games this season. If they are able to continue to take care of the ball with much efficiency, (only 11 turnovers per game thus far in the season) and use Wichita State’s aggressiveness to get easy points from the free throw line then they should win this ball game.
When it is all said and done, Wichita State’s athleticism at every spot on the floor – especially on the wing – is probably going to be too much for Evansville. In what should be a very competitive game, I see the experience and pride of Wichita State winning out and then covering the three points on the road in Valley play.
Prediction: Wichita State -3