Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles vs Eastern Illinois Panthers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/9/25
Betting on today’s Golden Eagles and Panthers game? Catch the action at Groniger Arena in Charleston, IL, as the Panthers hosts this showdown at 8:30 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this game is set at 141.5 points, and Eastern Illinois is favored by -1.5 vs. Tennessee Tech in a Ohio Valley conference matchup.
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES VS EASTERN ILLINOIS PANTHERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Eastern Illinois Panthers -1.5
This game will be played at Groniger Arena at 8:30 ET on Thursday, January 9th.
WHY BET THE EASTERN ILLINOIS PANTHERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-70 in favor of the Panthers.
- Not only will Eastern Illinois pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -1.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 141.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 148 points.
Can Tennessee Tech Lock in a Road Win?
Tennessee Tech improved to 6-7 on the season with a 74-55 win over Morehead State on Saturday, January 4th. The Golden Eagles were -2.5 favorites going into the game and covered the spread with the victory. The total points for the game were 129, falling under the O/U line of 142.5.
Tennessee Tech led 40-29 at halftime and continued to control the game in the second half, outscoring Morehead State 34-26.
Tennessee Tech put up 74 points in their last game, shooting 46.4% from the field and hitting 44.4% from beyond the arc (8/18). Their effective field goal percentage was 53.6%, with a 47.4% success rate on two-point attempts.
Matthew Sells led the way with 17 points, knocking down 4 of 5 threes. Jaylon Johnson contributed 12 points and 8 assists, while Anouar Mellouk and Johnson both grabbed 7 rebounds. The Golden Eagles finished with 21 assists as a team.
Despite Tennessee Tech allowing 55 points, their defense couldn’t capitalize on the offensive end. They shot 46% from the field, connecting on 26 of 56 attempts.
From beyond the arc, Tennessee Tech hit 8 of 18 threes, shooting 44%. They also went 14/20 from the free-throw line, a 70% performance.
Will the Panthers Find a Way to Win at Home?
Eastern Illinois fell to 2-11 on the season after a 60-57 loss to SIUE on Tuesday. The Panthers, who were +2.5 point underdogs, didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 117 fell well short of the 135.5 O/U line.
Trailing 28-27 at halftime, Eastern Illinois scored 30 points in the 2nd half but allowed 32, leading to the narrow defeat.
Eastern Illinois struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 37% from the field and 27.8% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 40.7%, and they managed 9 offensive rebounds and 10 assists as a team.
Ray’Sean Taylor led the Panthers with 19 points, despite shooting 4/15 from the field and missing all 5 of his three-point attempts. Ring Malith contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds, hitting 5 of his 8 shots, including 1/2 from deep.
Eastern Illinois put on a strong defensive performance, holding their opponent to just 60 points on 37% shooting from the field. They limited two-point opportunities, with the other team making 15 of 36 attempts for 41%.
From beyond the arc, Eastern Illinois kept the pressure on, allowing just 5 three-pointers on 18 attempts, a 27% success rate. They also sent the opposing team to the free-throw line 15 times, where they converted 12 for 80%.