Mercer Bears

The Bears beat the spread 19 times in 29 during 2025-26; 13 Division I teams beat it more often. Backing them to win over 28 priced games still lost 6.62 units, almost all of it on the road.

Covers without profit

Mercer finished 2025-26 with 19 covers and 10 misses, 65.5%. That placed them behind 13 Division I teams, tied with one. At home the Bears covered 9 of 12, 75%, a rate seven teams beat and four matched; away they covered 10 of 16, and in the one neutral-site game, none.

The moneyline told another story. Backing Mercer to win in every one of the 28 priced games cost 6.62 units. At home, where they went 14-1, it made 2.97 over 12 games. On the road, 5-11, it lost 8.59 over 15, more than all but 34 teams lost away, one losing the same.

Points without wins

As underdogs the Bears covered 7 of 9 lined games, a rate 12 teams beat and two matched, yet won only two of them. Their one priced underdog win was 95-83 at Eastern Kentucky at +170, and the underdog moneyline finished 5.30 units down over eight games. As favorites they went 14-6, covered 12 of 20, and lost 1.32 units.

Southern Conference opponents

Chattanooga beat Mercer twice as the underdog, both by four points: 79-75 with Mercer at -205 on the road, then 94-90 on Mercer’s floor at -625, the shortest price the Bears lost at all season. Western Carolina won two of three meetings, the last in the Southern Conference tournament quarterfinal. East Tennessee State and Furman each split with Mercer, who covered all four games.

The total

Fifteen unders, 14 overs, one game apart, with no lean either way. Mercer scored 82.69 points a game, a figure only 41 Division I teams topped, and allowed 75.50.

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