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The Indiana Hoosiers (5-2) welcome the Sam Houston Bearkats (4-4) to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall Tuesday. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Sam Houston vs. Indiana odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
The Hoosiers salvaged their trip to the Bahamas — avoiding an 0-3 showing in the Battle of Atlantis — with an 89-73 win over the Providence Friars in the seventh-place game Friday. Indiana, which lost its first 2 games there, covered as a 4-point favorite with the Over (137.5) hitting in the win.
The day before, in its most high-profile game of the season, Indiana lost as a 9.5-point underdog by the same score (89-73) to the then-No. 4, now-No. 8 Gonzaga Bulldogs — the Over (156.5) hit in that one, too. Wednesday’s opener was the ugliest result for the Hoosiers as they were embarrassed by Louisville 89-61, getting upset as 4-point favorites with the Under (155) cashing.
Indiana should be happy to be back home where it is 4-0 at this season. Overall, the Hoosiers are 3-4 against the spread (ATS). The 1-2 Bahamas trip knocked Indiana out of the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll where they were ranked 14th.
The Bearkats are coming off an 82-78 win over the Colgate Raiders Saturday, also avoiding an 0-3 showing in a 3-day tournament — the Live Oak Bank Holiday Classic in Wilmington, N.C. The Bearkats didn’t cover as 6.5-point favorites with the Over (137) hitting in the victory. Their first 2 games in the event were losses to Appalachian State 66-63 Wednesday and to host UNC-Wilmington 69-60 Friday. The ‘Kats didn’t cover in either defeat — as 6.5-point underdogs and 1.5-point ‘dogs, respectively — and the Unders (142.5 and 151) hit in both.
The Bearkats are 2-5 against the spread (ATS) this season, including 0-2 ATS as underdogs. Their toughest opponent so far involved a trip to then-No. 14, now-No. 16 Baylor, where they were trounced 104-67.
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Sam Houston at Indiana odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college basketball odds Lines last updated Monday at 11:27 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Sam Houston +600 (bet $100 to win $600) | Indiana -900 (bet $900 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Sam Houston +13.5 (-110) | Indiana -13.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 154.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Sam Houston at Indiana picks and predictions
Prediction
Indiana 85, Sam Houston 64
Moneyline
PASS.
Sam Houston (+600) has struggled as an underdog, losing both games by well over double figures. Expect those issues to continue in Bloomington Tuesday. On the other side, the Hoosiers (-900) are far too expensive to play as a home favorite.
Against the spread
BET INDIANA -13.5 (-110).
The Hoosiers have been a double-digit favorite 3 times this season, going 1-2 ATS and winning 2 of the 3 by at least 19 points — the won the other game by 11 points. IU faced some decent Power 4 opponents last week and should be primed to throttle a weaker opponent at home. Indiana’s top 3 weapons — F Mackenzie Mgbako (17.3 points per game, 54.5 FG%, F Malik Reneau (14.6 PPG, 58.5 FG%) and C Oumar Ballo (13.1 PPG, 67.9 FG%) — are all shooting better than 54% from the field, giving the Hoosiers an advantage as well.
As mentioned above, Sam Houston has been an underdog twice, losing both and failing to cover. The Bearkats were 16-point underdogs in the 37-point loss to Baylor, and were 10.5-point ‘dogs in a season-opening 91-75 setback at Nevada. Even if this is more like the Nevada game, Indiana should still come out on top for bettors. G Lamar Wilkerson leads Sam Houston with 19.6 PPG, but is shooing 47.5% from the field. G Dorian Finister is the Bearkats’ next best scorer at 11.4 PPG behind a 41.3 FG%.
TAKE INDIANA -13.5 (-110).
Over/Under
BET UNDER 154.5 (-110).
The Bearkats have scored 63 or fewer in 2 of their last 3 games and averaged just 71.0 PPG in the losses to Baylor and Nevada.
While Indiana is the predicted side to cover, it has scored over 73 points in just 1 of its last 4 games and is 3-4 O/U on the season. IU has yet to score more than 90 in a game this season.
Considering those trends, BACK UNDER 154.5 (-110).
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