Posted at 11:45 AM EST odds are subject to change.

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Hulman Center, Terre Haute, IN

Streaming: ESPN+

Missouri St +8 over Indiana St

2:00 PM EST. Indiana State is shooting up the overall rankings predicated on a hot streak that has seen the Sycamores win eight of their last nine games. The Sycs overall record is 20-10, which includes a 13-6 conference mark. This is an Indiana State squad that was poised to make a significant climb up the conference standings. The Sycs are old, experienced and familiar with a system that has won at a high level and they are on our radar to win the MVC tournament and punch their ticket to the Main Event but for this one game, we’re going to fade them. You see, ISU has covered nine straight. Therefore, if you bet them today, not only would you be paying a premium, but you would be very late to the party. The Sycs are also coming off a highly emotional one-point loss at Belmont. This is the final game of the year for both squads but for the host Sycamores, it’s the final home game for six seniors so there is the emotional toll of that in play too with friends and family all being present. The conference tournament will be held in St. Louis.

Indiana State’s non-conference Strength of Schedule (SOS) ranked 322nd in the country while Missouri State’s non-conference SOS ranked 112th. Missouri State beat BYU in its non-conference slate. They played at Saint Mary’s and also have a three-point win over Drake, the top team in the conference. The Bears have improved each season during head coach Dana Ford’s four-year tenure. Ford took over the program following a four-year streak in which it finished below-.500 in Missouri Valley play. Under Ford’s direction last season, MO State came within one point of an MVC Tournament championship appearance. Ford has raised the talent level of the program and in this warm-up game the conference tournament begins, we’re going to take back some inflated points with the team that figures to be more focused and ready to play.

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