Kyle Hunter – Sports Handicapper

*3 Star Play Under* The Missouri State Bears are the slowest paced team in the Missouri Valley Conference. Missouri State is 350th out of 363 teams in the nation in tempo. The Bears have seen 8 of 12 games in the conference stay under this total in regulation. All 8 of those have been 127 points or lower, so there has been some margin there as well.

Missouri State's biggest strength on offensive is their ability to get offensive rebounds. Valparaiso is the 24th best defensive rebounding team in the league. I think they can neutralize much of the Bears presence on the offensive glass.

Valparaiso is using up 18.3 seconds on an average possession in the league, so they have been slowing things down too. 

From an effective field goal percentage standpoint, both of these teams are better on defense than offense.

Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Under* The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are very good on defense in general. They are fantastic when playing on their home floor. Rutgers has a big home court advantage, and Steve Pikiell's team has been winning because of defense. Rutgers is 2nd in the nation (behind only Tennessee) in defensive efficiency. 

Minnesota has been without Dawson Garcia in their last two games, and he is questionable for this game. The Golden Gophers are averaging just 0.933 points per possession in Big Ten play. The Golden Gophers are 296th in overall tempo, so they do slow the game down quite a bit.

Rutgers has been at their best defensively at home against quality competition. They have played seven top 100 teams at home so far this year. They have allowed more than 57 points in regulation only one time. That was Iowa who scored a lot on them, but Minnesota's offense is nothing like Iowa.

Rutgers is allowing just 0.79 points per possession at home against top 100 opponents. 

Take the under here.