Missouri Valley Update

With a 67% ATS at this specialty conference of mine, along with a record 61% ATS at the Big 12, another conference I specialize in, once again getting into a few conferences is showing success. With that said, here are my weekly thoughts on what’s happening in this midway main conference, as I highlight a few teams to keep an eye on. There is a 3-way tie for first place right now, with Northern Iowa, Wichita State and Southern Illinois all locked at 8-2 in conference play and these 4 teams have a combined record at home from 37-2 SU.

Southern Illinois: Guess who has the longest US home winning streak in conference action? The Saluki from Southern Illinois in 34 games, and we cashed them in against Creighton this week and followed that win the next night against Drake. Saluki’s rank is 15-4 overall, and this was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Take a look at those home totals when they play there, because this team does it with a defense that allows just 52 ppg there, and they allow less than 59 ppg on the season. The Saluki are 16-2 ATS with the SUB in their last 18 games, just amazing! Key to these guys with totals, Las Vegas punters have been a long time adjusting to this unrealistic trend of totals.

Northern Iowa – Still leading Mo Valley, 18-3 overall. They are scoring points by the bucketload and have cashed their last 4 games in the Over. Scoring 72 points per game at home and allowing 57 will give you a winning record in any conference. Over the past 9 days, big wins over Creighton and Southern Illinois, along with Evansville and Drake, have the Panthers on a roll. This team also beat Big 12 sister Iowa State at Ames this year and scored over 70 points on the lauded Southern Illinois defense. A game at state rival Drake on Saturday and then a HUGE road trip to Omaha Nebraska to take on Creighton on the 31st where the Bluejays at the time of this article are 10-0 SU at home that will be the game of the week in Mo Valley next week.

Wichita State: An amazing team this year as the Shockers replaced 4 starters from last year’s team. They are 6-1 in the road SU and their only loss was to Illinois outside the Big 10 this year by 1 point! They have a big game at Creighton this weekend, which will determine how good they are, because Creighton hasn’t lost a game at center Quest this year and has beaten big brother Nebraska by 30 and also Xavier. The Shockers play great defense and have a team concept, and they usually have 4 players in double digits and really spread it out really well, and they’re very well coached. With an overall record of 17-4 and ranked 35th in the US in defensive points allowed, this is a sleeper team this season in Mo Valley, and one worth checking out for big points along the way.

There are few teams this season to keep an eye on, and Bradley at home is one of them. The Braves are 8-1 at home and are scoring 79 points per game there. Southwest Missouri State is one of the best offensive teams in Mo Valley, but they play little defense, and every time I’ve seen a total of less than 140 with them, they’ve been a winner. Creighton is playing very well at home and has problems away from home. We’ll see how good they are after Tuesday as they play Wichita State and Missouri Valley leader Northern Iowa in consecutive home runs, but I can assure you Creighton head coach Dana Altman will be on the trade block after this season. like a lot of top schools will be behind him, because he knows how to coach better than anyone else in this conference and he knows how to win big games. I will be attending both Creighton home games over the next week and the next 2 as mentioned will be barn burners!

Those are my weekly takes, be sure to follow me daily on my websites as I look to download the books again over the weekend with some picks from the Missouri Valley.

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