Here we go the last game of the season, for all the marbles!!
Seattle has defense, defense, defense! And defense ladies & gents wins championships IMO. Even tho Darnold makes mistakes, this team can lean heavily on their defense that doesn’t stop working until the clock hits 00:00. Darnold may have hit a “turning point” during the last few big games and can finally say he shook that monkey off his shoulder. I also think his experience will play a huge factor in this game, even though he didn’t play in the SB with the 49ers he definitely has been here before. The journey of Sam Darnold is written all over this season, only way Seattle can really lose this game is if somehow miraculously they do not continue to stay poised and disciplined. Head coach only took 21 months to create this monster of a defense, he is a mastermind.
Patriots! Yes a lot of people are overlooking this team I totally agree! The points come at a premium here, they have had a season where you may have questions about their schedule and so do I. But they have found a way to win when they needed to! I just can’t see them scoring a ton on an elite defense, on the other hand they are also able to stop Seattle’s shakey offense. As much they have put up score wise on their opponents, the defenses of both teams will show come Sunday. Maye IMO has a lot more pressure on him than Darnold does, his first year in and inexperience will show I believe. One of the things I’ve noticed about first year QB’s these past few years is that it’s like a seesaw effect, guys like Maye have these crazy solid seasons and then seem to regress throughout the 2nd, 3rd, and fourth seasons. We all saw it with Stroud and Williams, recently.
Picks:
Seahawks ML
Seahawks/Patriots UNDER 45.5
See you at the half!!!
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To remove first post, remove entire topic.
Here we go the last game of the season, for all the marbles!!
Seattle has defense, defense, defense! And defense ladies & gents wins championships IMO. Even tho Darnold makes mistakes, this team can lean heavily on their defense that doesn’t stop working until the clock hits 00:00. Darnold may have hit a “turning point” during the last few big games and can finally say he shook that monkey off his shoulder. I also think his experience will play a huge factor in this game, even though he didn’t play in the SB with the 49ers he definitely has been here before. The journey of Sam Darnold is written all over this season, only way Seattle can really lose this game is if somehow miraculously they do not continue to stay poised and disciplined. Head coach only took 21 months to create this monster of a defense, he is a mastermind.
Patriots! Yes a lot of people are overlooking this team I totally agree! The points come at a premium here, they have had a season where you may have questions about their schedule and so do I. But they have found a way to win when they needed to! I just can’t see them scoring a ton on an elite defense, on the other hand they are also able to stop Seattle’s shakey offense. As much they have put up score wise on their opponents, the defenses of both teams will show come Sunday. Maye IMO has a lot more pressure on him than Darnold does, his first year in and inexperience will show I believe. One of the things I’ve noticed about first year QB’s these past few years is that it’s like a seesaw effect, guys like Maye have these crazy solid seasons and then seem to regress throughout the 2nd, 3rd, and fourth seasons. We all saw it with Stroud and Williams, recently.
In a classic MVC dichotomy, we have a collision of two opposing philosophies. The Murray State Racers (17-7, 9-4) are one of the conference's most potent offenses, bringing a fast-paced, high-scoring brand of basketball. The Southern Illinois Salukis (10-13, 4-8) are a team built on defensive foundation and discipline, having recently found form by winning 2 of their last 3. This is a rematch of Murray State's thrilling 84-81 home win on December 30th. The market has installed the Racers as slight road favorites (-1.5), acknowledging their superior record and offensive firepower. But can the Salukis, at home and with recently rediscovered defensive confidence, exploit this thin margin and either win outright or keep it within a single possession?
This is the ultimate "strength vs. strength" and "weakness vs. weakness" matchup. Murray State's elite offense (#1 in MVC scoring) faces SIU's elite defense (#3 in points allowed). Conversely, SIU's anemic offense (#10) goes against Murray's vulnerable defense (#10). The first meeting hit 165 total points. The key question is which team can impose its style: can Murray State turn this into a track meet, or can SIU muck it up into a half-court grind?
Murray State Racers:
Current Identity: OFFENSE-DRIVEN, PACE-PUSHING, INCONSISTENT DEFENSIVELY.
Biggest Strength:Multi-Pronged Scoring Attack. They don't rely on one guy. Javon Jackson (16.6 PPG) is the dynamic lead guard. Fred King (13.5 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 65.6% FG) is a dominant interior force and the nation's #24 ranked offense. Roman Domon (13.6 PPG, 53.8% FG) provides efficient secondary scoring. When their transition game and ball movement (3rd in MVC in assists) are humming, they are nearly unstoppable.
Fatal Flaw & Recent Woes:Defensive Lapses and Cold Streaks. Allowing 79.0 PPG in conference is a problem. More concerning is their recent form: 1-3 in their last 4 games, with losses to Drake, Northern Iowa, and Illinois State. Their offense averaged just 80.6 PPG in that stretch, well below their season average. They are in a clear slump.
Injury Watch:Mason Miller (F) missed the last game. His absence (6.7 PPG, 40% 3PT) would hurt their floor spacing and depth.
Southern Illinois Salukis:
Current Identity: DEFENSIVE-MINDED, DELIBERATE, GAINING CONFIDENCE.
VC in 3-pointers made (4.8/game) and 10th in scoring. They can have prolonged scoring droughts. If they fall behind by 8-10 points, their comeback arsenal is limited.
Injury Watch:Isaiah Stafford (G) has been in and out of the lineup. His scoring (7.3 PPG) is missed but not central to their identity.
The Home Court & Momentum Factor: SIU is playing its best ball of the season, inspired by defense. Murray State is reeling, searching for answers. The emotional edge sits squarely with the Salukis in a hostile Banterra Center environment.
Prediction & Pick: ...
The full analysis for this game and others is on my website:
In a classic MVC dichotomy, we have a collision of two opposing philosophies. The Murray State Racers (17-7, 9-4) are one of the conference's most potent offenses, bringing a fast-paced, high-scoring brand of basketball. The Southern Illinois Salukis (10-13, 4-8) are a team built on defensive foundation and discipline, having recently found form by winning 2 of their last 3. This is a rematch of Murray State's thrilling 84-81 home win on December 30th. The market has installed the Racers as slight road favorites (-1.5), acknowledging their superior record and offensive firepower. But can the Salukis, at home and with recently rediscovered defensive confidence, exploit this thin margin and either win outright or keep it within a single possession?
This is the ultimate "strength vs. strength" and "weakness vs. weakness" matchup. Murray State's elite offense (#1 in MVC scoring) faces SIU's elite defense (#3 in points allowed). Conversely, SIU's anemic offense (#10) goes against Murray's vulnerable defense (#10). The first meeting hit 165 total points. The key question is which team can impose its style: can Murray State turn this into a track meet, or can SIU muck it up into a half-court grind?
Murray State Racers:
Current Identity: OFFENSE-DRIVEN, PACE-PUSHING, INCONSISTENT DEFENSIVELY.
Biggest Strength:Multi-Pronged Scoring Attack. They don't rely on one guy. Javon Jackson (16.6 PPG) is the dynamic lead guard. Fred King (13.5 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 65.6% FG) is a dominant interior force and the nation's #24 ranked offense. Roman Domon (13.6 PPG, 53.8% FG) provides efficient secondary scoring. When their transition game and ball movement (3rd in MVC in assists) are humming, they are nearly unstoppable.
Fatal Flaw & Recent Woes:Defensive Lapses and Cold Streaks. Allowing 79.0 PPG in conference is a problem. More concerning is their recent form: 1-3 in their last 4 games, with losses to Drake, Northern Iowa, and Illinois State. Their offense averaged just 80.6 PPG in that stretch, well below their season average. They are in a clear slump.
Injury Watch:Mason Miller (F) missed the last game. His absence (6.7 PPG, 40% 3PT) would hurt their floor spacing and depth.
Southern Illinois Salukis:
Current Identity: DEFENSIVE-MINDED, DELIBERATE, GAINING CONFIDENCE.
VC in 3-pointers made (4.8/game) and 10th in scoring. They can have prolonged scoring droughts. If they fall behind by 8-10 points, their comeback arsenal is limited.
Injury Watch:Isaiah Stafford (G) has been in and out of the lineup. His scoring (7.3 PPG) is missed but not central to their identity.
The Home Court & Momentum Factor: SIU is playing its best ball of the season, inspired by defense. Murray State is reeling, searching for answers. The emotional edge sits squarely with the Salukis in a hostile Banterra Center environment.
Prediction & Pick: ...
The full analysis for this game and others is on my website:
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