PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* Horizon League TOP TICKET
(NCAAB) Oakland vs. Valparaiso,
Point Spread: -2.50 | -101.00 Valparaiso (Home)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: -2.50 | -101.00 Valparaiso (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Horizon League's top-two teams meet tonight, as 12-3 Oakland visits 11-3 Valparaiso.The Grizzlies have opened 2-0 in conference play and the home-standing Crusaders are 1-0.
Oakland: The Grizzlies won 23 games last year and lost in the championship game of the Vegas 16 tourney. However, the 5-9 Felder decided to forego his senior season, after averaging 24.4-4.3-9.3. He really can't be replaced and also gone is center Gibson (11.3 & 6.2). Still, Oakland comes in on a three-game winning streak, including that 2-0 start in Horizon play. Guard Martez Walker (17.7) leads the team in scoring and is paired with Sherron Dorsey-Walker (12.4) in the backcourt. The 6-7 Hayes is back and he's the team's best frontcourt player, averaging 13.5 & 6.4. Oakland averages 80.2 PPG
Valparaiso: The Crusaders won the Horizon regular season title but was KO'd in the conference tourney, then got snubbed for the NCAA. Valpo almost got its revenge in the NIT but lost in the championship game to GW, ending the season with 30 wins. Head coach Bryce Drew accepted the job at Vandy with his assistant, Matt Lottich, taking over. Returning for his senior year is the 6-9 Peters, who averages 25.0 & 10.4. Hammink (15.1 & 4.4) and Tevonn Walker (12.0 & 4.9) make for a veteran and solid backcourt duo.
The pick: Oakland has covered seven of its last eight against Valpo (including its last four visits) but Valpo has gone 4-1 SU the last five overall (losing in OT) and this pointspread is low enough for me to make the Crusaders a 10* play.
Oakland: The Grizzlies won 23 games last year and lost in the championship game of the Vegas 16 tourney. However, the 5-9 Felder decided to forego his senior season, after averaging 24.4-4.3-9.3. He really can't be replaced and also gone is center Gibson (11.3 & 6.2). Still, Oakland comes in on a three-game winning streak, including that 2-0 start in Horizon play. Guard Martez Walker (17.7) leads the team in scoring and is paired with Sherron Dorsey-Walker (12.4) in the backcourt. The 6-7 Hayes is back and he's the team's best frontcourt player, averaging 13.5 & 6.4. Oakland averages 80.2 PPG
Valparaiso: The Crusaders won the Horizon regular season title but was KO'd in the conference tourney, then got snubbed for the NCAA. Valpo almost got its revenge in the NIT but lost in the championship game to GW, ending the season with 30 wins. Head coach Bryce Drew accepted the job at Vandy with his assistant, Matt Lottich, taking over. Returning for his senior year is the 6-9 Peters, who averages 25.0 & 10.4. Hammink (15.1 & 4.4) and Tevonn Walker (12.0 & 4.9) make for a veteran and solid backcourt duo.
The pick: Oakland has covered seven of its last eight against Valpo (including its last four visits) but Valpo has gone 4-1 SU the last five overall (losing in OT) and this pointspread is low enough for me to make the Crusaders a 10* play.
