Jacksonville Dolphins vs Mercer Bears Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Jacksonville vs Mercer NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Fort Myers.

Jacksonville vs Mercer Prediction

Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Dolphins and Bears. The game is starting at 1:30 ET on FSW, and it's hosted by the Bears at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, FL. Get ready to place your bets! Jacksonville is favored by -4 in this non-conference showdown. The game's over/under is currently at 144 points.

Jacksonville vs. Mercer Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Jacksonville Dolphins at Mercer Bears
Where: Fort Myers at Suncoast Credit Union Arena
Date: Monday, November 25th
Betting Odds JAX -4, JAX -190 | MERC +156 O/U 144

Dolphins Preview: Will Jacksonville Win on the Road?

Jacksonville Dolphins Recent Game/Games

Jacksonville pulled off a surprising 74-64 win over Virginia Tech on Wednesday, November 20th. The Dolphins were +15 point underdogs going into the game, but not only did they cover the spread, they won outright.

After trailing 39-29 at halftime, Jacksonville turned things around in the 2nd half, scoring 45 points while holding the Hokies to just 25. The total points for the game ended at 138, going over the pre-game O/U line of 134.

Dolphins Offense Breakdown

Jacksonville put up 74 points in their last game, shooting 51.7% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 56.7%. They excelled inside, hitting 68.6% of their two-point attempts, while struggling from beyond the arc, making just 28% of their threes (7/25).

Zimi Nwokeji led the Dolphins with 19 points, connecting on 4 of 8 from deep, while Robert McCray added 17 points and 8 assists. Mylyjael Poteat contributed 15 points, and Toibu Lawal and Brandon Rechsteiner chipped in 14 and 11 points, respectively, with Rechsteiner hitting 3 of 5 from three-point range.

Dolphins Team Defense

Jacksonville's defense held their opponent to 64 points, allowing them to shoot 41% from the field with 23 made baskets on 56 attempts. Inside the arc, the Dolphins gave up 17 two-pointers on 38 attempts, resulting in a 44% shooting performance.

From three-point range, Jacksonville's defense limited their opponent to 6 made threes on 18 attempts, a 33% shooting rate. They also sent them to the free-throw line 20 times, where they converted 12 attempts, shooting 60%. Jacksonville allowed 12 offensive rebounds in the game.

Bears Preview: Is an Upset Waiting to Happen at Home?

Mercer Bears Recent Game/Games

Mercer fell 84-72 to South Carolina on Thursday, November 21st, in an away game. Despite being +18.5 point underdogs, the Bears kept it closer than expected.

Mercer trailed 36-32 at halftime and allowed 48 points in the 2nd half while scoring 40. The game’s total points of 156 exceeded the over/under line of 150.

Bears Offense Breakdown

Mercer's offense put up 72 points in their last game, shooting 45.6% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 56.1%, thanks in part to hitting 46.2% from three-point range, connecting on 12 of 26 attempts. At the free-throw line, they were nearly perfect, going 8 for 9.

Jamarii Thomas led the Bears with 19 points, hitting 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. Zachary Davis added 18 points, while Collin Murray-Boyles was nearly flawless, shooting 6 of 7 overall and 2 for 2 from three, finishing with 16 points and 9 rebounds.

Bears Team Defense

Mercer’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 84 points on 49% shooting from the field. They allowed the opposing team to hit 53% of their two-point attempts, going 15/28 from inside the arc.

From three-point range, Mercer’s opponents shot 44%, making 12 of 27 attempts. The Bears also sent them to the free-throw line 29 times, where they converted 18 free throws at a 62% rate. Mercer gave up 8 offensive rebounds.

Dolphins vs Bears Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

In their last three road games, Jacksonville has averaged 67 points per game while allowing 74. The team's record in this stretch was 1-2 while going 2-1.
Although Mercer has a straight up record of 0-3 in their last three home games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 1-2. The team averaged 67 points per game in these games.
Going back to their previous three games as the underdog, Mercer has an ATS mark of 1-2 while going 0-3 straight up.
Through their last five matchups as the betting favorite, the Dolphins have a good straight up record, but their ATS mark is just 1-4.