December 18 College Hoops

The Dunkyard Dawgs

The only ranked matchup on Wednesday's slate features the surging Georgia Bulldogs, who have established themselves as one of the nation's most dominant offensive forces. Georgia leads all 365 Division I programs in four statistical categories: scoring offense (98.3 ppg), scoring margin (+27.7 ppg), fastbreak scoring (27.6 ppg), and blocks (8.5 bpg). The "Dunkyard Dawgs" also rank first nationally in percentage of field goals that are dunks at 22.4 percent, showcasing their elite athleticism and transition game.

Blue Cain and Jeremiah Wilkinson have been leading a balanced attack, with the Bulldogs becoming the only Power Conference team running an 11-man rotation where every player averages double-figure minutes. Wilkinson, the 2025 ACC Sixth Man of the Year at Cal, has been transformative since his February transfer.

Georgia is riding high after an 84-65 win over Cincinnati that earned them their first AP Top 25 ranking in consecutive seasons since 2001-03. Western Carolina enters with a modest 4-6 record and is 1-7 against the spread this season. The Catamounts will need to control tempo against the nation's highest-scoring offense. Georgia's elite shot-blocking and fastbreak prowess should overwhelm Western Carolina in what could be another showcase performance.

Missouri Valley Conference Opener

The Missouri Valley Conference season tips off with a critical matchup between two evenly matched teams looking to establish early conference momentum. Bradley enters as the hotter team, riding a four-game winning streak and showcasing a defensive identity that ranks 89th nationally in defensive rating (99.6). The Braves' calling card is their elite pressure defense that forces turnovers, which could prove decisive against an Indiana State team that ranks 287th nationally in turnovers per game (13.7).

JaQuan Johnson leads Bradley's offensive charge at 18.3 ppg on 48.4% shooting, providing consistent scoring punch in a balanced attack. Indiana State counters with strong home-court advantage (6-0 SU in their last six at Hulman Center) and superior ball movement, averaging 17.5 assists per game with Xavier Hall serving as a legitimate distributor at 5.4 apg (50th nationally).

The series history favors Bradley (59-44 all-time), including wins in three of the last five meetings and both matchups last season (90-89 OT on the road, 118-65 at home). However, Indiana State's 7-1 ATS record in their last eight home games against Bradley suggests they perform well as underdogs at Hulman Center. Expect a defensive battle with the total trending under.

MVC Opener: Styles Clash

This MVC opener features a fascinating clash of styles as Drake's defensive discipline collides with Murray State's explosive offense. The Racers enter riding a four-game winning streak, including a 115-100 shootout win over Akron, and boast the 16th-ranked offensive rating nationally at 133.5. Murray State averages a blistering 90.5 points per game and has been nearly unstoppable at home with a 7-1 record at the CFSB Center. Layne Taylor recently earned MVC Newcomer of the Week honors.

Drake counters with elite ball security and defensive efficiency, ranking 6th nationally in turnovers per game (just 8.8) with the 3rd-best turnover ratio in the country. The Bulldogs' defensive rating of 95.9 (43rd nationally) gives them a significant 20.4-point defensive efficiency advantage over Murray State's porous 116.3 defensive rating (326th). Jalen Quinn paces Drake's offense at 18.8 ppg while also contributing 4.7 rebounds and 4 assists.

The contrasting styles create an intriguing over/under decision - Murray State's elite offense (133.5 offensive rating) against Drake's stout defense (95.9 defensive rating). Drake has been impressive on the road with a 3-0 away record. While Murray State's home dominance makes them the favorite, Drake's turnover-free approach could keep this closer than the 6.5-point spread suggests.

A late-night West Coast affair features two struggling programs looking to build momentum before conference play intensifies. Pepperdine seeks to win back-to-back games for the first time this season after defeating Cal State Bakersfield 70-62 behind Aaron Clark's 25-point, 5-steal performance. Clark has been the Waves' offensive catalyst at 14.3 ppg (10th in WCC), and Pepperdine boasts impressive offensive balance with four players averaging 11+ points (Clark, Cooley, Dozic, Phipps). The Waves' 78.1% free throw shooting could prove critical in a close game.

Long Beach State has struggled mightily at 2-9 overall with an 0-2 Big West start, losing their last three games including devastating overtime losses to San Jose State and UC Santa Barbara. The Beach were picked to finish 8th in the preseason Big West Poll, and their 69.9% free throw shooting lags behind Pepperdine's accuracy. However, freshman Gavin Sykes has been a bright spot, averaging 17.1 ppg (6th in Big West), and point guard Isaiah Lewis provides steady leadership with 32 assists and 16 steals.

Long Beach State won last year's meeting 79-76 in Malibu and holds a 7-2 edge in the last nine meetings. Both teams shoot similarly from the field, suggesting a tightly contested battle. Pepperdine's superior free throw shooting and recent momentum give them the edge as road favorites.