Eastern Illinois Panthers vs Southeast Missouri State Redhawks NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/19/24
Betting on today’s Panthers and Redhawks game? Catch the action at Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, MO, as the Redhawks hosts this showdown at 8:30 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this game is set at 139.5 points, and Southeast Missouri State is favored by -5.5 vs. Eastern Illinois in a Ohio Valley conference matchup.
EASTERN ILLINOIS PANTHERS VS SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE REDHAWKS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Southeast Missouri State Redhawks -5.5
This game will be played at Show Me Center at 8:30 ET on Thursday, December 19th.
WHY BET THE SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE REDHAWKS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-70 in favor of the Redhawks.
- Not only will Southeast Missouri State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -5.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 139.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 148 points.
Taking a Look at the Panthers Chances in Cape Girardeau
Eastern Illinois dropped to 1-7 on the season after an 81-66 road loss to Eastern Kentucky on Saturday. The Panthers, who entered the game as +10 underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 147, surpassing the over/under line of 141.5.
Eastern Illinois trailed 39-28 at halftime and couldn’t close the gap in the second half, as they were outscored 42-38 after the break.
Eastern Illinois managed just 66 points in their last game, shooting 41.8% from the field and hitting only 3 of 18 from three-point range (16.7%). Their effective field goal percentage was 44.8%, and they struggled at the free-throw line, making just 7 of 15 attempts (46.7%).
Nakyel Shelton led the way with 22 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 55.6% from the floor. George Kimble III added 18 points, while Jackson Holt contributed 17 points, hitting 5 of 10 from deep. Turner Buttry was perfect from three, going 4 for 4, and finished with 14 points.
Eastern Illinois gave up 81 points in their last game, with their defense allowing the opposing team to shoot 45% from the field on 28 of 62 attempts. Inside the arc, they held the opponent to 45% shooting, with 11 made two-point shots out of 24 attempts.
From beyond the arc, Eastern Illinois struggled, allowing 17 three-pointers on 38 attempts, a 44% shooting rate. They also sent the opponent to the free-throw line 12 times, where they converted 8 for 66%. Eastern Illinois allowed 10 offensive rebounds in the game.
Will the Redhawks Pull Through as the Favored Home Team?
Southeast Missouri State dropped to 2-6 on the season after a 73-53 loss to Murray State on Sunday. The Redhawks entered the game as +15.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 126, falling short of the 147-point over/under line.
After going into halftime tied at 33, Southeast Missouri State struggled in the second half, scoring just 20 points while allowing 40.
Southeast Missouri State struggled offensively in their last game, managing just 53 points on 40.4% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 44.2%, and they hit only 30.8% of their three-point attempts, going 4-for-13 from beyond the arc.
JaCobi Wood led the way with 23 points, hitting 3 of 4 threes and shooting 53.3% overall. Nick Ellington was efficient inside, shooting 75% from the field, while Brendan Terry connected on 4 of 5 shots, finishing with 12 points.
Southeast Missouri State’s defense struggled, giving up 73 points on 48% shooting. They allowed the opponent to hit 17 of 36 two-point attempts, a 47% rate.
From beyond the arc, the Redhawks gave up 9 three-pointers on 18 attempts, a 50% clip. They also sent the opponent to the line 20 times, where they made 12 free throws.