Bradley vs. Southern Illinois - 3/6/20 College Basketball Pick, Odds, and Prediction
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Southern Illinois Salukis (16-15) at Bradley Braves (20-11)
College Basketball: Friday, March 6, 2020 at 3:30 pm (Enterprise Center)
The Line: Bradley Braves -4.5 -- Over/Under: 125.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Bradley Braves (20-11, 11-7 MVC) travel to St. Louis, MO to take on the Southern Illinois Salukis (16-15, 10-8 MVC) in a Missouri Valley Conference Quarterfinal match-up at the Enterprise Center. Bradley won both of their games against Southern Illinois this year, winning by a combined 21 points and going 2-0 against the spread in those games.
Bradley is 6-4 straight up and 3-6-1 against the spread in their last 10 games. Bradley has gone 9-8-1 against the spread in conference games this season. Bradley averages 71.6 points per game and allows 66.1 points per game to opponents. Bradley has shot 44% from the field, 37.1% from 3 and 73% from the free-throw line this season.
Bradley had won 5 of 6 before losing their last game of the season 66-67 to Loyola-Chicago as 2-point home favorites. Bradley is ranked 117th by KenPom, with the 104th ranked offense and 149th ranked defense in the nation. Bradley is led Senior guard Darrell Brown, who averages 14.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, and Junior forward Elijah Childs, who averages 14.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game for the Braves.
Southern Illinois is 5-5 straight up and 3-6-1 against the spread in their last 10 games. Southern Illinois is 8-9-1 against the spread in conference games this season. Southern Illinois scores 62.7 points per game and surrenders 62.2 points per game to opponents. Southern Illinois has shot 42.9% from the field, 33.4% from 3 and 72.6% from the free-throw line this season.
Following a 7-game winning streak, Southern Illinois has lost 5 of its last 6 games to close the regular season. Southern Illinois lost their last game 59-84 to Missouri State as 6 ½-point road underdogs. Southern Illinois is ranked 180th by KenPom, with the 252nd ranked offense and 102nd ranked defense in the country. Southern Illinois is led by Freshman forward Marcus Domask, who averages 13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, and Senior guard Eric McGill, who averages 11.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game for the Salukis.
Bradley and Southern Illinois have split their last 10 match-ups both straight up and against the spread, and the under is 7-3 in those games. The over is 6-4 in the last 10 games for both Southern Illinois and Bradley.
Southern Illinois has been sliding backward to finish their season and I think their year will end Friday night against Bradley. Give me the Braves.
Erik’s Pick Bradley -4.5
AUTHOR: Erik Judd
