The Keydets and Bears are set to face off at 2:00 ET on ESPN+. The Bears will host the game at Hawkins Arena in Macon, GA. The over/under for this game is set at 148.5 points, and Mercer is favored by -13 vs. VMI in a Southern conference matchup.

VMI KEYDETS VS MERCER BEARS BETTING PICK

The Pick: VMI Keydets +13

This game will be played at Hawkins Arena at 2:00 ET on Saturday, February 3rd.

WHY BET THE VMI KEYDETS:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-70 in favor of the Bears.
  • Even though we have Mercer winning straight-up, we like VMI at +13.
  • The over/under is currently sitting at 148.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.

Will VMI Secure A Victory as Road Underdogs?

Despite being 1-18 as an underdog this season, VMI is getting 13 points on the road against Mercer. The Keydets have lost 10 straight games away from home this year, and their average scoring margin on the road is -20.7.

Overall, VMI has lost three straight games, and they are 4-18 on the season. They are 0-10 on the road, and their last win came on January 9th.

Against the spread, VMI is 7-12 this season. Their road ATS record is 3-7 and they have gone 0-3 vs. the spread in their last 3 road games. As the underdog, the Keydets are 7-12 vs. the spread this year and they have gone 2-1 in their last 3 games as the underdog.

This season, the over/under record in VMI games is 8-11 and today’s line of 148.5 is lower than the average over/under line in their games (149.8). Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 163 points and over their last 10 games, their OU record is 6-3.

The VMI offense is coming off a game in which they scored 79 points vs. UNCG. Overall their field goal percentage was 46.3% while connecting on 6 threes. The top scorer for the Keydets was Brennan Watkins with 21 points, while Taeshaud Jackson also added 17 to the scoreboard.

Coming into today’s game, the VMI defense is giving up an average of 80.7 points per contest. Against UNCG in their most recent game, the VMI defense gave up a total of 85 points while allowing UNCG to hit 46% of their shots.

Can the Bears Secure a Win at Home?

With a record of 3-5 at home this season, the Mercer Bears have struggled to find success at home. Over their last three games at home, the Bears have gone 0-3, and over their last five, they have gone just 1-4.

Mercer comes into this game as the favorite, as they have been in seven of their 22 games this season. So far, they have gone 4-3 as the favorite, and they are 9-13 overall this season.

As the favorite this season, Mercer has gone 3-3-1 vs. the spread. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, the Bears have a mark of 5-4-1. At home, Mercer has an ATS record of 4-4 this year. Over their last three home games, the Bears are 0-3 vs. the spread.

Today’s over/under line of 148.5 is higher than the average over/under line in Mercer’s games this season (138.8). So far, 16 of their games have finished with fewer points than today’s line. In their last three games, the average scoring total is just 123 points and their over/under record in their past 10 games is 4-4-1.

Against East Tennessee State, the Mercer had a tough time putting up points compared to their season average of 68.9 points per game. They scored 49 points and posted a field goal percentage of 36.5% in the game. Jalyn McCreary is the current leading scorer for the team, with an average of 14 as they approach today’s matchup. In addition, Jake Davis brings a PPG average of 9.5 into the game.

Coming into today’s game, the Mercer defense is giving up an average of 70.1 points per contest. In their previous game vs. East Tennessee State, the Buccaneers finished with a field goal percentage of 36% and a total of 54 points vs. Mercer.