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Our newest college basketball feature, focusing on specific conference, has us visiting another Midwestern Conference, the Missouri Valley. Each week we will look at a different mid-level conference, to see what their current records are, how they are performing against the all important spread numbers and whom they are matching up with this weekend. Additionally, if any unusual scheduling quirks appear, we will keep you informed. The Missouri Valley is another sleeper conference that does not get much play with the media in spite of exciting regular season action, a highly competitive post-season tournament and solid performances in the NCAA Tournament. Last year Southern Illinois was the 7th seed and gave Oklahoma State fits in the round of 32. Creighton could have been as big a story as West Virginia in the tournament after losing by just two points in the opening game. The prior year, Northern Iowa nearly derailed Georgia Tech’s run the Final Four as a 14th seed, losing by only five points. In 2002, the Salukis were far from dogs in upsetting both Texas Tech and Georgia before falling in the Sweet Sixteen. Missouri Valley Standings for the 2005-06 Season | | All | ATS | Scoring | Home/Away | | Team | W | L | PCT | W | L | P | PCT | PF | PA | Home | Away | | | 19 | 4 | 0.826 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 61.1% | 68.7 | 58.2 | 10-1 | 9-3 | | | 18 | 5 | 0.783 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 58.8% | 70.0 | 61.1 | 11-1 | 7-4 | | | 15 | 5 | 0.750 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 55.6% | 68.2 | 60.8 | 12-0 | 3-5 | | | 16 | 6 | 0.727 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 72.2% | 61.1 | 55.3 | 9-1 | 7-5 | | | 14 | 6 | 0.700 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 63.2% | 79.6 | 69.2 | 9-2 | 5-4 | | | 13 | 7 | 0.650 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 61.1% | 74.2 | 66.5 | 10-1 | 3-6 | | | 11 | 12 | 0.478 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 55.6% | 71.7 | 69.8 | 7-5 | 4-7 | | | 9 | 11 | 0.450 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 41.2% | 64.2 | 68.0 | 6-5 | 3-6 | | | 8 | 12 | 0.400 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 35.7% | 56.9 | 59.5 | 8-4 | 0-8 | | | 5 | 15 | 0.250 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 61.1% | 67.8 | 74.7 | 5-5 | 0-10 | |
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The Missouri Valley is well known in basketball circles for teams having a decided home court advantage. This year is another example of how tough these places are to play in for the visitors. Home teams are 38-21 64.4% and a nicely profitable 31-25-3 ATS 55.3%. The big money is in home favorites in this conference. Home Favorites have won an astounding 37 of 43 games. 86 percent and covered a remarkable 67.5%. (27-13-3 ATS) The top of the standings in “The Valley” look like a St. Louis freeway at 5:00 on a weekday. Four teams are currently tied for first place. For certain one of them will be falling off the leaderboard, with Southern Illinois visiting Wichita State. The Salukis fell into a four-way tie by looking ahead and ignoring Indiana State, in losing by nine points as 15.5-point home favorites. SIU was pegged for upper division only in the league after the loss of two-time MVC player of the year Darren Brooks. Coach Chris Lowry has preached defense and offensive patience, which explains why the Salukis lead this tough conference in fewest points allowed and field goal percentage. The Shockers have been a surprise with 18-5 record. They own a terrific home record at 11-1. In lined games they are undefeated at Koch Arena at 7-0, yet only 3-3-1 ATS. They lost to SIU by nine points at the beginning of 2006 and will have revenge in mind. The line should be Shockers by 6.5, more then point and a half either way could constitute a play. Another team at the top, Creighton, hits the road for Des Moines, to face offensive minded Drake. The Blue Jays spoiled N. Iowa first ever trip into the Top 25, beating them 63-55. Creighton does a great job in not beating themselves with the 2nd best turnover/assist ratio in the league. Drake has dropped four consecutive MVC games losing at least 19 points in three of them. Two major issues for the Bulldogs being beaten soundly. Drake makes the fewest three point shots per game in the league and they have the worst 3-point defense, with opponents making 39.1% beyond the arc. The line will be important with Drake 2-1-1 ATS as home (bull) dogs and Creighton only 3-5 away from home and 1-3 ATS as a road favorite. The last team at the top of the standings is Northern Iowa. The Panthers off back-to-back 20+ win seasons were pre-season favorites to nab the conference crown. This week they earned their first ever Top 25 rating, but were in a bad situational spot against Creighton and lost by 8 points. UNI will look to hold a piece of the conference lead when lowly Indiana State comes to Cedar Falls. The Sycamores have grabbed the attention of Coach Greg McDermott, after they handed Southern Illinois their first home loss of the year. UNI is 10-1 at home and 3-0 off a loss with 2-1 mark against the number. Indiana State had not won since before Christmas and had lost nine in a row against the spread until this past Wednesday. Panthers should be angry and destroy the Sycamores, however have big date with Wichita State up next that could make a closer then anticipated contest. A couple of mid-level Valley teams are trying to work back into contention, when Bradley heads to Missouri State. The Braves have been on the warpath in conference action with 5 wins in six games. Bradley is 2nd in the league in scoring at 74.2 PPG and plays excellent team basketball. The Braves are tops in assists at 17.5 and second in steals in MVC play. Missouri State is led by Blake Ahearn the Valley’s leading scorer, who averages nearly three 3-pointers an outing. The Bears are mauling opponents at home with 9-2 and 8-3 ATS record, winning by 17.9 PPG. Bradley’s offense does not play well on the road falling 11 points from normal average. The Bears should be a 7 to 7.5-point favorite, any thing less is a steal for the home team. A couple of the league’s also-rans Illinois State and Evansville complete this weekend’s schedule. The Redbirds have yet to win on the road for the entire season, with 0-8 record. Their spread record is an improvement at 2-4-2, still not a good play. Evansville has a single conference victory, with a .500 overall home record. Being a rare home favorite has been a mild cure for the Purple Aces who are 3-0 against the spread, along with outright wins.
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