Rogers' 10* NCAAB Game of the Day >> Won L4 NCAAB 10*s!
(NCAAB) Valparaiso vs. Oakland,
Point Spread: 1.00 | -115.00 Valparaiso (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: It's Horizon League action Friday night as the 21-5 Valparaiso Crusaders go on the road to take on the 19-7 Oakland Golden Grizzlies. Valpo leads the conference with an 11-2 mark and Oakland sits in second place at 9-4, although the Grizzlies won the first meeting this year at Valparaiso, 78-66!

Valparaiso: The Drew name is legendary at Valpo and after starring there years ago as a player, Bryce Drew went 124-49 in five seasosn as head coach, winning four regular season titles. Last year's team was 16-2 in league play but lost in the conference tourney and then didn't get an expected at-large bid to the big Dance. Valpo went to the NIT and didn't lose until the championship game, finishing with 30 wins. Drewe took the Vandy job and his assistant, Lottich, has taken over. The Crusaders did lose guard Darien Walker (8.0) and the 6-10 Fernandez (5.6 & 7.2) from that team but with the 6-9 Peters back, Valpo was again expected to be teh league's best team. That's been the case with Peters (23.1 & 10.7) leading the way. Returning guards Hammink (15.5 & 4.0) and Tevonn Walker (11.4 & 5.6) join Peters in double digits plus the 6-7 Adekiya (8.6 & 5.1) is a solid frontcourt partner for Peters.

Oakland: The Golden Grizzlies were 13-5 in league play last year and lost in the championship game of the first-ever Vegas 16 tourney (finished with 23 wins). However, do-everything PG Felder (24.4-4.3-9.3) did not return for his senior season. Still, led by guards Martez Walker (16.7) and Dorsey-Walker (12.7 & 5.3) plus the 6-7 Hayes (15.8 & 7.6), Oakland is on the verge of another 20-win season.

The pick: Oakland enters on a four-game winning streak but Valpo comes in 10-1 over the team's last 11 games plus is playing with revenge from that earlier loss at home to Oakland. In that game, Valpo shot just 36.2%, including 3 of 14 on threes. Valpo won't shoot that poorly again. Oakland has played well against Valpo in recent years but at this price, Valpo only needs a win to cover. Make Valpo a 10* play.