Alcorn State Braves vs. Dayton Flyers December 20 Betting Preview

After starting the season ranked in the Associated Press Top-25, not much has gone the Dayton Flyers' way. While the Flyers have started to right the ship, having won four of their past five games, Dayton didn’t grab an impressive win in the non-conference schedule. Hosting Alcorn State won’t provide the Flyers with a boost for making the playoffs, but could help build confidence leading into Atlantic 10 conference play.

The Braves will be relieved to get through this game. Alcorn State has lost all five games thus far of what will be a seven-game road trip before everything is said and done. The Braves are hoping to head into a difficult environment and give the Flyers a reason to remember them.

Braves’ Schedule Makes a Mediocre Offense Anemic

Alcorn State isn’t going to rack up a ton of points even when the Braves get into SWAC play. However, having to play three Power 5 programs -- Arizona State, Ole Miss and Tennessee -- along with strong mid-majors in Wichita State, Grand Canyon, and Seattle, has made life difficult on Alcorn State.

The Braves score 61.4 points per game, which ranks 350th nationally, while Alcon State also shoots 37.2 and 26.6 percent from the field and three-point line, respectively. The Braves have been respectable on the defensive end. Alcorn State’s opponents are only shooting 31.9 percent from the outside against them.

Dominic Brewton leads Alcorn State in scoring, putting up 12.3 points per game. Byron Joshua also averages in double figures with 10.6 points per game.

Flyers Have Been Grounded on Offense

Dayton’s defensive numbers would produce envy from many college basketball programs around the country. The Flyers are in the Top-25 nationally in points allowed per game, field goal percentage defense, and three-point percentage defense. Opponents shoot below 30 percent from the three-point line and average 60.0 points per game against the Flyers.

Trying to score has proved to be a different challenge altogether for Dayton. The Flyers play at a deliberate pace and have put up 65.1 points per game, which ranks 324th nationally. Dayton only shoots 29.1 percent from the perimeter, but the Flyers make 44.4 percent of their shots from the field.

Despite the Flyers not scoring a lot of points, Dayton has plenty of guys who can score consistently. DaRon Holmes II (17.3 points per game), Toumani Camara (11.5) and Mustapha Amzil (10.3) all average in double figures scoring. Kobe Elvis, who averages 10.1 points per game, will be out for a while with an injury according to Dayton coach Anthony Grant.

Odds

Dayton is a -20 point favorite. 

The Flyers will be looking to grab another win over an overmatched Alcorn State team. The Braves are overmatched, but this will be a difficult spread to cover for Dayton. 

The Flyers don’t usually put up too many points, so they will need to lean heavily on the defense if they want to hit this number.

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