Athletics-Recreation Center will host Valparaiso Crusaders vs. Cleveland State Vikings action on Friday as both teams try to pay off for bettors in NCAA basketball betting action.

The Crusaders currently sports a 10-5 record overall in NCAAB action, and have posted a corresponding betting slate of 6-6 ATS. The Vikings are 8-6 and 4-6 ATS. Betting totals have seen the Crusaders produce a 2-8 OVER/UNDER record on the season, while the Vikings have gone 3-2-1 against the number.



View Cleveland State vs Valparaiso Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Valparaiso opened as 12-point favorites in this college basketball tilt over at Sportsbook but the number may be on the move. Watch for the Sportsbook total as well at Sportsbook.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
It's a betting matchup between the No. 155-rated Crusaders and the No. 286-ranked Vikings, according to the latest pro hoops power rankings here at Odds Shark. Prediction formulas run on this game indicate a possible 74-64 result in favor of the Crusaders.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Valparaiso's No. 183 nationally ranked offense (67.7 points per game) against a Vikings defense that sits as the No. 254 at 70.1 PPG. The Crusaders have been averaging 45.9% from the field, more than the Vikings have managed so far this season (44.3% on average).

Defensively, Cleveland State features the nation's No. 297-rated defense on the road, allowing 77.5 points per game. Valparaiso, meanwhile, comes in at No. 165 nationally in scoring at home.

Cleveland State lost its last outing, a 72-55 result against Kent State on January 2. They failed to cover in that game as a 1.5-point underdog. Bryn Forbes scored 12 points in a futile effort to lead the Vikings to a win (they lost 72-55 to Kent State at Wolstein Center on Wednesday).

Valparaiso was a 63-54 loser in their most recent outing at home against Loyola of Chicago. They failed to cover the 8.5-point spread as favorites. The Crusaders got 15 points from Ryan Broekhoff, but it was Loyola of Chicago that prevailed in a 63-54 final on Wednesday at Athletics-Recreation Center.


Cleveland State Vikings Trends:
When playing on Friday are 5-5
Before playing Illinois-Chicago are 9-1
After playing Kent State are 5-5
After a loss are 5-5

Valparaiso Crusaders Trends:
When playing on Friday are 8-2
Before playing Illinois-Chicago are 5-5
After playing Loyola of Chicago are 5-5
After a loss are 9-1

A few Vikings at Crusaders trends to consider:
Cleveland State is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Cleveland State is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games on the road
Valparaiso is 16-2 SU in its last 18 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Valparaiso's last 7 games when playing Cleveland State
Valparaiso is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Valparaiso is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland State


Next up:
Cleveland State home to Illinois-Chicago, Monday, January 7
Valparaiso at Illinois-Chicago, Wednesday, January 9