Bradley Braves vs Indiana State Sycamores Picks & Predictions for Thursday December 18 2025
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The Bradley Braves head to Terre Haute for a Missouri Valley Conference matchup with the Indiana State Sycamores on Thursday, December 18, 2025. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM ET at the Hulman Center, with coverage on ESPN+. Both teams enter at 7-4, but Bradley brings the hotter current form into this one as they look to keep stacking wins. For more plays across the board, check out these free college basketball picks.
Bradley Braves: Riding Momentum into Terre Haute
Bradley is 7-4 and comes into this matchup with a four-game winning streak, and the preview notes they’re looking for a fifth straight victory. In their most recent stretch, the Braves have picked up wins over NCC (86-53), Northern Illinois (84-55), Washington State (64-60), and Liberty (74-64). The consistency has been the story — they’re not just winning, they’re controlling games.
Stat-wise, Bradley is scoring 76.3 points per game while allowing just 66.9, which is a strong defensive profile. They’re shooting 45% from the field, grabbing 32.5 rebounds, and averaging 13.2 assists. The defensive activity pops too: 10.6 steals per game gives them extra possessions, and that’s been a big edge during this win streak.
The headliner is JaQuan Johnson, Bradley’s leading scorer at 18.3 PPG on 48.4% shooting, with 76.5% at the free-throw line. When Bradley needs a bucket or a stabilising possession, Johnson is the guy who can create it.
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Indiana State Sycamores: Finding Their Groove at the Right Time
Indiana State is also 7-4, and they’ve won three straight coming into this one. Over their last five, the Sycamores beat Milwaukee (70-68), Southern Indiana (77-55), and Eureka (99-57), though they did drop the two games before that to Alcorn State (81-74) and Louisiana Tech (75-73). The recent streak has steadied things, and now they get a big home test against a Bradley team rolling.
Indiana State is averaging 75.4 points per game and allowing 69.0. They shoot 46% from the field, pull down 37.0 rebounds, and their passing stands out with 17.5 assists per game. The Sycamores aren’t quite as disruptive defensively as Bradley, but they still chip in 7.2 steals and 2.1 blocks.
Their season scoring leader is Camp Wagner, putting up 12.5 PPG. His shooting numbers show a contrast — 35.9% from the field — but he’s been elite at the line at 95.5%, which matters late in close games.
Key Points To Watch For
- Streak vs streak: Bradley is on a 4-game win streak, while Indiana State has won 3 straight.
- Defense and pressure: Bradley’s 66.9 OPP PPG and 10.6 steals suggest they can speed Indiana State up.
- Ball movement: Indiana State’s 17.5 assists is a clear strength — the question is whether they can keep that flowing under pressure.
- Market lean: Bradley is listed -3.5 with a 145.5 total, which fits a slightly lower-scoring, Bradley-controlled type of game.
Bradley Braves vs Indiana State Sycamores Pick
My best pick is Bradley -3.5. I’m backing the Braves because their recent form is simply more convincing: they’re winning repeatedly, and they’re doing it with defense (only 66.9 points allowed per game) and disruption (10.6 steals). In a matchup of two 7-4 teams, I trust the group that’s been consistently dictating pace and forcing mistakes.
My lean is Under 145.5. I’m leaning that way because Bradley’s defensive numbers point to them keeping this game from turning into a free-flowing shootout, and if they’re generating steals, that can lead to quick points for them but also broken rhythm for Indiana State. If the Braves control tempo, 145.5 feels reachable-but-tight.
Overall, I’m playing it as Bradley continuing the streak, covering a modest number, and doing it in a game that stays a touch more grindy than explosive. Betting on sports and on Bradley is easy, but even easier if you use the best sportsbooks. Make sure you know about how the fans are looking on prediction markets for Indiana State with the social sportsbooks. Getting the most out of your bets on Bradley vs Indiana State can be done by using the Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.
Final Score Prediction:
Bradley 75, Indiana State 68
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