Check out our free Elon vs Valparaiso pick and preview for this NCAA Basketball game in Valparaiso. See who we like to win and cover the spread in this College Basketball matchup.
Elon vs Valparaiso Pick & Preview: Sunday, December 18th Betting Odds
Phoenix vs Beacons Matchup at a Glance
- Sport: NCAAB
- Teams: Elon Phoenix at Valparaiso Beacons
- Where: Valparaiso at Athletics-Recreation Center
- Date: Sunday, December 18th
- Betting Odds: Elon +8.5, ELON +324 | VALP -423 O/U 138.5
Phoenix Preview:
The Elon Phoenix head into today’s game in what will be their 12th game of the season, posting a record of 2-9. So far, the Phoenix have played 5 games on the road, with a record of 0-5. For the season, Elon has been the underdog in 8 games, sitting with a mark of 0-8. Currently, the oddsmakers have the lines set with the Phoenix being +8.5 point underdogs.
Elon’s leading scorer this season is Sean Halloran who is averaging 13.36 points per contest. So far, Halloran has accounted for 18.85% of the team’s scoring. In addition, he is contributing 3.27 rebounds per game and 5.0 assists. Zac Ervin is the second leading scorer for the Phoenix, averaging 11.0 points per game. Between him and Ervin, they are accounting for 34.4% of the team’s scoring.
Offensive production has been hard to come by for Elon this season, as they are currently ranked 326th in college basketball at 67.1 points per game. A major reason for low scoring totals is the fact that that have played at a below average pace, and have struggled to knock down outside shots. As a team, the Phoenix’s 3-point shooting percentage sits at just 34.2%, placing them 235th in the NCAA.
Beacons Preview:
Valparaiso will take the floor against the Phoenix with an overall record of 4-7. Currently, the Beacons have been the home team 6 times, sitting with a record of 4-2. The Beacons’ are sitting with a betting line that is -8.5 points in their favor. For the season, Valparaiso has been favored to win in 3 games, sitting with a mark of 2-1.
Ben Krikke comes into today’s game as the Beacons’ leading scorer at 20.09 points per contest. Not only has Krikke been key to the team’s scoring efforts, but he is Valparaiso’s top rebounder at 6.18 boards per contest. Behind Krikke, the team has benefited from the strong play of Kobe King who is second on the team in scoring at 17.27 points per game. Overall, he has hit 43.6% of his shots and is adding 3.09 boards per game.
Offensive production has been hard to come by for Valparaiso this season, as they are currently ranked 214th in college basketball at 70.8 points per game. A major reason for low scoring totals is the fact that that have played at a below average pace, and have struggled to knock down outside shots. As a team, the Beacons’ 3-point shooting percentage sits at just 33.3%, placing them 309th in the NCAA.
Free Spread Prediction: Valparaiso Beacons -8.5
For today’s matchup between Valparaiso Beacons and Elon Phoenix, our analysis points to Valparaiso covering the spread as the -8.5 point favorites. Although the Beacons are just 2-3 over their previous 5 games as the favorite, we view the oddsmakers line being set too low. Today’s contest is an oustanding matchup for Valparaiso as they will be facing a Elon team that also perfers to slow the game down. Look for the team to put together an efficient offensive performance while also limiting the Phoenix’s offense, leading to not only a straight up win but an ATS victory. Before tip-off, be sure to go ahead and lock in your wager on the Valparaiso Beacons to cover!
