Eastern Illinois Panthers vs Northwestern Wildcats NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/15/24
Looking to win big? The Panthers and Wildcats face off at 8:00 ET on PEAC. The Wildcats are hosting the game at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, IL. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 140.5 points, and Northwestern is favored by -24.5 at home against Eastern Illinois.
EASTERN ILLINOIS PANTHERS VS NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Eastern Illinois Panthers +24.5
This game will be played at Welsh-Ryan Arena at 8:00 ET on Friday, November 15th.
WHY BET THE EASTERN ILLINOIS PANTHERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-69 in favor of the Wildcats.
- Even though we have Northwestern winning straight-up, we like Eastern Illinois at +24.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 140.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Can Eastern Illinois Pull Off a Road Win?
Eastern Illinois entered their road matchup against Indiana as heavy +27.5 underdogs but couldn’t cover the spread, falling 90-55. The game’s total points of 145 fell just short of the 148.5 O/U line.
Despite leading 37-36 at halftime, the Panthers managed only 18 points in the 2nd half while allowing 54.
Eastern Illinois struggled offensively in their last game, putting up just 55 points on 36.8% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 42.1%, with a 37.8% mark on two-point attempts and 35% from beyond the arc.
The Panthers managed only 7 offensive rebounds and 8 assists as a team. Mackenzie Mgbako was a bright spot, shooting 70% overall and 50% from three, while also contributing 7 rebounds and 4 assists.
Eastern Illinois struggled defensively, giving up 90 points on 61% shooting. They allowed 38 field goals on 62 attempts.
Inside the arc, the Panthers gave up 32 two-point baskets on 44 attempts, a 72% clip. From three, they allowed 6 of 18 shooting.
Will Northwestern Come Through as Home Favorites?
Northwestern Wildcats Recent Game/Games
Northwestern improved to 2-0 on the season with an 83-74 win over UIC on Tuesday. The Wildcats were -15.5 point favorites at home but didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 157, going over the pre-game line of 141.5.
Northwestern led 31-29 at halftime before scoring 52 points in the 2nd half while allowing 45. While they got the win, the Wildcats will look to tighten up defensively in their upcoming games.
Northwestern put up 83 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field and 46.7% from three-point range, hitting 7 of 15 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 55.6%, and they connected on 66.7% of their free throws, going 22 for 33 from the line.
Nick Martinelli led the way with 27 points, shooting 10 of 14 from the field and 2 for 2 from beyond the arc. Filip Skobalj was also efficient, hitting 5 of 6 shots, including 3 of 4 from three-point range. The Wildcats recorded 18 assists and grabbed 8 offensive rebounds in the win.
Northwestern’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 74 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 50% from the field. The Wildcats couldn’t contain the two-point shots, as the other team went 20/39 for 51%.
From beyond the arc, Northwestern’s defense allowed 7 threes on 15 attempts, a 46% shooting performance. They also sent the opponent to the free-throw line 33 times, where they converted 22 for 66%. The Wildcats gave up 8 offensive rebounds.