Bradley Braves vs Valparaiso Beacons Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Valparaiso vs Bradley NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Peoria.

Valparaiso vs Bradley Prediction

Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Beacons and Braves. The game is starting at 4:00 ET on ESPN+, and it's hosted by the Braves at Carver Arena in Peoria, IL. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this Missouri Valley conference contest is set at 150.5 points, with Bradley being favored by -13.5 at home against Valparaiso.

Valparaiso vs. Bradley Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Valparaiso Beacons at Bradley Braves
Where: Peoria at Carver Arena
Date: Sunday, December 29th
Betting Odds BRADLY -13.5, VALP +683 | BRADLY -1166 O/U 150.5

Beacons Preview: Will the Beacons Come Through as Road Underdogs?

Valparaiso evened their record at 5-5 after a 76-73 road win over Western Michigan on Friday. The Beacons, who were +1.5 point underdogs, not only pulled off the win but also covered the spread. The total points for the game came in just under the O/U line of 153.5, with a combined 149 points.

Valpo’s comeback was the story of the game, as they turned a 42-26 halftime deficit into a win by outscoring the Broncos 50-31 in the second half.

Beacons Offense Breakdown

Valparaiso put up 76 points in their last game, shooting 46% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 50.8%. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 5 of 18 attempts for 27.8%, while connecting on 53.3% of their two-point shots. At the free-throw line, they made 13 of 19 attempts, shooting 68.4%.

Cooper Schwieger led the Beacons with 19 points, shooting 7 of 9 from the field. Chansey Willis Jr. added 16 points and 7 assists, while Owen Lobsinger contributed 14 points, hitting both of his three-point attempts. Valparaiso finished with just 6 assists as a team and grabbed 11 offensive rebounds.

Beacons Team Defense

Valparaiso's defense gave up 73 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 45% from the field, including 54% on two-pointers (27/50). They managed to hold the opposing team to just 4 made threes on 18 attempts, a 22% success rate.

From the free-throw line, Valparaiso's opponents shot 50%, making 7 of 14 attempts. The Beacons also allowed 15 offensive rebounds in the game.

Braves Preview: Will the Braves Make it Happen at Home?

Bradley Braves Recent Game/Games

Bradley improved to 9-2 on the season with a dominant 92-59 win over Canisius on Saturday. Playing at home, the Braves entered the game as -24.5 favorites and covered the spread with ease. The total points for the game reached 151, surpassing the over/under line of 141.5.

Bradley took control early, leading 48-30 at halftime, and continued their strong play in the second half, outscoring Canisius 44-29.

Braves Offense Breakdown

Bradley's offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 92 points on 57.7% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 69.2%, thanks in part to their 46.2% shooting from beyond the arc, hitting 12 of 26 attempts. They also connected on 69.2% of their two-point shots, going 18 for 26.

At the free-throw line, the Braves were solid, making 20 of 24 attempts for an 83.3% success rate. Paul McMillan IV led the way with 26 points, while Duke Deen added 12 points, hitting 4 of 6 from three-point range. Bradley also dished out 17 assists as a team, with Deen contributing 5 of them.

Braves Team Defense

Even with Bradley's defensive struggles, they managed to hold their opponent to 59 points in this game. The Braves allowed a 57% shooting performance, with their opponent hitting 30 of 52 shots.

Bradley gave up 12 threes on 26 attempts, with their opponent shooting 46% from beyond the arc. They also sent the other team to the line 24 times, where they converted 20 free throws.

Beacons vs Braves Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Through their last five road games, Valparaiso has an ATS record of just 1-4. However, their overall record was 1-4 while averaging 68 points per game.
Through their last three home games, Bradley has an ATS record of just 1-2. However, their overall record was 2-1 while averaging 78 points per game.
Spanning across their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Beacons have gone 5-5 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 2-8.
The last ten games that Bradley was favored, they have an ATS mark of 7-2-1 while going 10-0 straight up.