The Mercer Bears will hit the floor running against the visiting Florida Gulf Coast Eagles Wednesday, looking to improve their record and boost wagering bankrolls in the process.

The Bears bring a 8-6 record (0-3 ATS) to this tilt against the 9-5 Eagles, who are 1-0 ATS. OVER/UNDER bettors have witnessed Mercer go 2-0 so far and the Eagles go 1-0.



View Florida Gulf Coast vs Mercer Odds and Stats.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Bears sit at No. 147 in the current college hoops power poll here at Odds Shark, while the Eagles sit at No. 97 on the same chart. The computers running our scores simulations have concluded that the Bears will win this game 68-67.



How They Match Up:
Rebounding is always a key handicapping consideration and Eagles is ranked No. 172 in NCAA hoops at 35.6 per game. Contrast that with Mercer’s No. 271 mark in the paint. When it comes to three-point shooting, Mercer is the No. 125-ranked team in the country at 6.6 per game, while Florida Gulf Coast rates No. 175 at 6.1 per game.

Defensively, Florida Gulf Coast features the nation's No. 280-rated defense on the road, allowing 76.4 points per game. Mercer, meanwhile, comes in at No. 312 nationally in scoring at home.

Florida Gulf Coast won its last outing, a 68-59 result against Kennesaw State on December 31. Sherwood Brown scored 19 points leading the Eagles to a 68-59 victory over Kennesaw State at KSU Convocation Center on Monday.

Mercer was a 70-64 Sportsbook in its last match at home against Stetson. Travis Smith went off for 25 points and added 1 rebound, leading Mercer over Stetson, 70-64, on Monday at Mercer University Center.

Next up:
Florida Gulf Coast home to Jacksonville, Saturday, January 5
Mercer at Kennesaw State, Saturday, January 5