Eastern Michigan @ MISSOURI ST.
#575 Eastern Michigan +126 over MISSOURI ST.

BEST LINE: Pinnacle +126

Posted at 8:40 AM EST and updated at 9:40 AM EST.    

3:00 PM EST. The Bears from Missouri State reside in the tougher Missouri Valley but that doesn’t mean they’re the better team. When it is all said and done, Missouri State will have played a tougher schedule than Eastern Michigan but we couldn’t care less because right now, that holds no weight whatsoever. The Bears are only 5-5 this season and lost their last two games to Oral Roberts and Tulsa, the former by 19 points. Missouri State has one nice defeat when they forced Washington State into OT before losing. The Bears have zero notable wins. They return four starters from last year but top scorer and rebounder Jarmar Gulley is not among them. The Bears have six newcomers to the team, which leaves them thin on the bench and plenty of holes in other areas as well. The Bears went 14-3 at home last season and have historically been tough in their own barn. That makes them seem rather appealing here spotting a cheap price but not many are aware of just how good this opponent is and the Bears are about to find out.

If you want to learn about playing zone, check out Eastern Michigan. EMU befuddled Michigan's John Beilein, the best offensive coach in college hoops right now, with what Beilein called "the best zone I've ever seen." Eagles coach Rob Murphy was a terrific high school coach in Detroit, then was Jim Boeheim's assistant, and he has taken what he learned from Boeheim and plays the system even better. Want further proof? Thad Matta of Ohio State has played exclusively zone this season. Where did he go to learn his zone? He went to EMU and Murphy. The Eagles have started the year 8-2. Their two losses occurred against two teams that are likely going to the Big Dance in March in Dayton and Michigan State. In between those two losses, EMU defeated Michigan 45-42. Summarizing that, EMU’s last three games were against Dayton, Michigan and Michigan State. The Eagles may run the table in the MAC. Nine players on this year's EMU roster are either junior college transfers or four-year college transfers, including big men Mike Samuels (6-foot-11, 285 pounds), Jerome Hunter (6-foot-9, 250 pounds) and Olalekan Ajayi (6-foot-11, 245 pounds). Not many teams can penetrate a defense that physically takes up the entire key area. EMU is an elite rebounding team that will dominate the boards in just about every game they play from here on in and that includes this one. We’re not likely going to need the points in this game. We see it as a clear advantage in EMU’s favor and that’s how we’re going to bet it.  



Our Pick

#575 Eastern Michigan +126 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.52)

 

 

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