The visiting Valparaiso Crusaders hope to send their backers to the pay window on Saturday as they look to cover the spread at CFSB Center against the Murray State Racers.

The Racers bring a 9-2 record (4-4 ATS) to this tilt against the 9-4 Crusaders, who are 5-5 ATS. OVER/UNDER bettors have witnessed Murray State go 3-1 so far and the Crusaders go 2-6.



View Valparaiso vs Murray State Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
The Racers were listed as 5-point favorites at most sportsbooks tracked by Odds Shark earlier in the day. It opened first at Sportsbook, where the total was expected shortly.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
This game matches up the No. 20 (Racers) and the No. 176 (Crusaders) teams in the league, according to our current NCAAB power rank. A 80-78 result in favor of the Racers has been projected by the scores prediction engine.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits Murray State's No. 50-ranked offense, averaging 76.5 PPG, against a Crusaders defense that ranks No. 41 at 58.9 PPG. The Racers field goal percentage has averaged 46.9% so far, almost the same as the Crusaders marksmen have achieved on the year, 46.9% per game.

Comparing how these foes stack up statistically, Valparaiso owns the country's No. 75-rated mark, allowing 64 points per game on the highway. Murray State, on the other hand, rates No. 57 in scoring at home.

Valparaiso won its last outing, a 79-51 result against Purdue Calumet on December 22. Valparaiso cruised to victory on Saturday, running Purdue Calumet out of the gym and running up a 79-51 score at Athletics-Recreation Center.

Last time out for Murray State, they were a 77-68 loser as they battled Dayton on the road. They failed to cover in the match as a 4.5-point underdog. The Racers endured a 77-68 loss at the hands of the Flyers on Saturday, despite a 20-point effort from Isaiah Canaan at Dayton Arena.


Valparaiso Crusaders Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4
Before playing Loyola of Chicago are 6-4
After a win are 5-5

Murray State Racers Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 7-3
Before playing Tennessee-Martin are 7-3
After playing Dayton are 2-0
After a loss are 8-2

A few Crusaders at Racers trends to consider:
Valparaiso is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Valparaiso is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games on the road
Murray State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Murray State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games


Next up:
Valparaiso home to Loyola of Chicago, Wednesday, January 2
Murray State at Tennessee-Martin, Thursday, January 3