Murray State bids for upset vs West Virginia

The No. 12 seed Murray State Racers will tip off vs the West Virginia Mountaineers in Round of 64 action of the NCAA Tournament on Friday. The Racers were an automatic bid after winning the Ohio Valley Conference championship and are riding a 14-game win streak. Murray State opened as a 10-point dog vs the Mountaineers and is making its first appearance in the tourney since 2012.

SHARK BITES
  • West Virginia is 0-6 ATS in its last six games as a favorite of 10 or more.
  • Murray State is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games.
  • The total has gone OVER in five of West Virginia’s last six games.

West Virginia was fairly successful in the ultra-competitive Big 12 this season and lost in the conference title game to Kansas. The Mountaineers are led by point guard Jevon Carter, who averaged 17 points per game to go with six assists and was named Big 12 defensive player of the year.  

WVU made the Sweet 16 in last year’s tourney and head coach Bob Huggins is known for getting the best out of his players in the postseason as the Mountaineers have won their first-round game in seven of their 10 tournament appearances since 2005.

Another trend to note if you’re planning to back West Virginia is its 54-6 SU record in its last 60 games as a double-digit favorite. On the flip side, Murray State is 2-20 SU in 22 games as a double-digit underdog. When you factor in the Racers are 0-3 SU all-time vs Big 12 teams, it doesn’t seem like this is the game that bettors should be eyeing for a potential upset.

The total opened at 145 and the UNDER should be on the radar. West Virginia holds opponents to 69 points per game and the UNDER has hit in six of Murray State’s last seven games.

Murray State Racers vs West Virginia Mountaineers Matchup

Team Betting Records & Power Rankings

The 24-10 and 15-16 ATS West Virginia Mountaineers will face the 26-5 Murray State Racers, who own a 17-11 ATS mark on the season. In totals betting, the Mountaineers are 16-16 on the OVER/UNDER so far this season while the Racers are 14-14.

The power rankings show a disparity between these teams, with the Mountaineers rated this week at No. 32 and the Racers sitting at No. 11.

Statistical Matchup

Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and West Virginia has the nation's No. 40-rated offensive output, at 79.62 PPG. The visiting Murray State defense ranks No. 22 allowing on average 65.55 PPG. The Mountaineers' FG% has averaged 43.38% so far, less than the Racers marksmen have achieved on the year, 48.46% per game.

Recent Outings Betting Recap

The Racers got 24 points from Jonathan Stark as Murray State ran past Belmont 68-51 on Saturday at Ford Center.

The Mountaineers got 25 points from Daxter Miles Jr., but it was Kansas that prevailed in a 81-70 final on Saturday at Sprint Center.

West Virginia is 0-6 ATS in its last six games as a favorite of 10 or more.home Murray State is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games.away The total has gone OVER in five of West Virginia’s last six games.home
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