Dayton Flyers vs Bradley Braves Prediction, 3/18/2026 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Dayton Flyers vs Bradley Braves

Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Location: Carver Arena in Peoria, IL

TV: ESPNU

Odds/Point Spread: Bradley (+1)

The Bradley Braves (21-12) will try to defeat the Dayton Flyers (23-11) at Carver Arena on Wednesday in the 1st round of the NIT. Dayton opens this matchup as 1-point favorites. The total comes in at 143.

The Dayton Flyers played VCU and went home with a loss by a final score of 70-62 in their last contest. Dayton wrapped up the game having earned a 43.4% field goal percentage (23 out of 53) and knocked down 7 out of their 21 shots from 3-point land. From the free throw line, the Flyers converted 9 of their 17 shots for a percentage of 52.9%. When discussing hauling in rebounds, they compiled a total of 37 with 7 of them being on the offensive end. They also recorded 16 assists for this game as well as forcing 4 turnovers and getting 3 steals. In regard to the defense, Dayton allowed the other team to shoot 40.4% from the floor on 23 out of 57 shooting. VCU distributed 12 assists and had 9 steals for the game. In addition, VCU pulled down 33 rebounds (6 offensive, 27 defensive), but wasn't able to record a block. VCU finished the game shooting 68.4% at the charity stripe by making 13 of 19 attempts. They also converted 11 of their 24 attempts from beyond the arc. In regard to personal fouls, the Flyers ended up finishing with 18 while VCU recorded 18 personal fouls.

Javon Bennett is one guy who was important in the matchup. He accounted for 14 points on 6 of 16 shooting. He saw the court for 39 minutes and also pulled down 1 board. He walked away from this one shooting 37.5% from the floor and dished out 3 dimes.

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Dayton will enter this matchup with a mark of 23-11 this season. They are giving up possession 12.0 times per contest and as a unit they commit 16.7 personal fouls on a nightly basis. As a unit, Dayton is collecting 32.9 boards per contest and has 487 assists on the year, which is 115th in college hoops in terms of passing. The Flyers are shooting 34.1% on shots beyond the perimeter (258 of 756) and 75.1% from the charity stripe. They are averaging 74.4 pts per contest (223rd in the country) while connecting on 44.6% from the field.

On the defensive end, the Flyers are forcing their opponents into 14.6 turnovers per game and they draw 20.4 fouls. They give up 35.6% on three-point shots and they rank 71st in Division 1 in points per game allowed (69.9). The Flyers defense is giving up a FG percentage of 43.6% (815 of 1,870) and they surrender 33.9 rebounds per game as a group. They are ranked 139th in D-1 in giving up assists with 416 relinquished for the year.

In their last game, the Bradley Braves walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 73-69 when they faced UNI. When discussing cleaning the glass, Bradley permitted UNI to get 21 in all (1 on the offensive glass). They finished shooting 66.7% from 3-point land by hitting 6 of 9 and finished the game at 9 of 15 at the charity stripe (60.0%). The Braves allowed UNI to convert 29 out of their 44 attempts from the floor which had them at 65.9% in the matchup. At the conclusion of this game, the Braves finished 23 out of 53 from the floor which had them at 43.4%. In the matter of shooting from beyond the arc, Bradley knocked down 8 of their 21 tries (38.1%). They were able to make 15 of the free throws for a rate of 83.3%. UNI had 18 fouls in the matchup which took the Braves to the charity stripe for a total of 18 attempts. They gave up possession of the ball 9 times, while getting 9 steals in this matchup. The Braves recorded 14 defensive rebounds and 8 offensive rebounds totaling 22 in this matchup.

Timoty van der Knaap ended up being a factor for the Braves for the game. He earned 12 points in his 24 mins on the hardwood, but wasn't able to notch an assist. He buried 4 out of 6 for the game for a field goal rate of 66.7%, and added 6 rebounds.

Bradley has a win-loss record of 21-12 so far this season. The Braves are committing 18.6 personal fouls per contest and they hit 73.3% from the charity stripe. They are assisting teammates 13.4 times per game (217th in the country) and they are turning it over 9.7 times per contest. Bradley has totaled 2,560 pts this season (77.6 per game) and they collect 34.3 rebounds per contest. When it comes to offensive execution, the Braves are shooting 43.8% from the field, which is ranked 266th in the country.

The Bradley defense gives up 36.1% on shots from beyond the perimeter (268 of 742) and their opposition knocks down 70.8% of their foul shots. They allow 13.6 dimes and 36.0 rebounds every game, which is ranked 203rd and 282nd in college hoops. The Braves are ranked 167th in D-1 in points given up per game with 73.4. They are forcing their opponents into 13.9 TO's every game and have let teams shoot 45.1% from the field (240th in the nation).

Who will win tonight's NCAA game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Bradley (+1)

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