Illinois State Redbirds vs Bradley Braves NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/25/25
Planning on watching today’s Redbirds and Braves game? Catch the action at Carver Arena in Peoria, IL, as the Braves hosts this showdown at 2:00 ET on CBSS. This Missouri Valley conference matchup has an over/under of 139.5 points, and Bradley is favored to win by -8.5 at home vs. Illinois State.
ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS VS BRADLEY BRAVES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Illinois State Redbirds +8.5
This game will be played at Carver Arena at 2:00 ET on Saturday, January 25th.
WHY BET THE ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-71 in favor of the Braves.
- Even though we have Bradley winning straight-up, we like Illinois State at +8.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 139.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 148 points.
Can Illinois State Stun the Crowd at Carver Arena?
Illinois State Redbirds Recent Game/Games
Illinois State improved to 11-8 on the season with an 85-81 home win over Indiana State on Tuesday. The Redbirds were favored by 7.5 points but didn’t cover the spread.
After a 40-40 tie at halftime, Illinois State scored 45 points in the 2nd half while allowing 41. The total points for the game were 166, surpassing the O/U line of 153.5.
Illinois State put up 85 points in their latest game, shooting 51.7% from the field and 44% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 62.1%, with a 57.6% success rate on two-point attempts. At the free-throw line, they connected on 77.8%, hitting 14 of 18 shots.
Dalton Banks led the way with 21 points, shooting 85.7% overall and hitting both of his three-point attempts. Johnny Kinziger added 20 points and 6 assists, while Aaron Gray contributed 19 points and 8 rebounds. Camp Wagner knocked down 5 threes, finishing with 17 points, and Chase Walker also added 17 points in the win.
Illinois State’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 81 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 51% from the field. The Redbirds couldn’t contain the inside game, as they allowed 57% shooting on two-point attempts (19/33).
From beyond the arc, Illinois State’s defense gave up 11 threes on 25 attempts, a 44% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the line 18 times, where they converted 14 free throws (77%). On the glass, the Redbirds limited offensive rebounds, giving up just 4.
Will Bradley Find a Way to Win at Home?
Bradley Braves Recent Game/Games
Bradley improved to 16-3 on the season with an 89-77 road win over Belmont on Tuesday. The Braves, who entered the game as -2.5 favorites, not only secured the victory but also covered the spread. The game’s total points reached 166, surpassing the over/under line of 155.5.
After a 43-43 tie at halftime, Bradley clamped down defensively in the second half, holding Belmont to 34 points while scoring 46 of their own.
Bradley’s offense put up 89 points in their last game, shooting 47.5% from the field and 39.3% from three-point range, hitting 11 of 28 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 57.6%, and they were nearly perfect from the free-throw line, making 22 of 23 shots for a 95.7% rate.
Christian Davis led the way with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Carter Whitt contributed 15 points and 11 assists. Jaquan Johnson added 17 points in just 20 minutes, and Duke Deen and Zek Montgomery each chipped in 12 points.
Bradley gave up 77 points in this one, despite holding their opponent to 38% shooting from the field. They allowed 15 two-point baskets on 31 attempts, a 48% conversion rate.
From beyond the arc, Bradley’s defense saw their opponent hit 11 threes on 37 attempts, a 29% success rate. At the free-throw line, they sent their opponent to the stripe 17 times, where they converted 14, shooting 82%. Bradley also allowed 14 offensive rebounds.