Illinois State Redbirds vs Cornell Big Red NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/22/24
Looking to win big? The Redbirds and Big Red face off at 12:00 ET on ESPN+. The Big Red are hosting the game at Newman Arena in Ithaca, NY. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 158.5 points, and Cornell is favored by -6.5 at home against Illinois State.
ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS VS CORNELL BIG RED BETTING PICK
The Pick: Cornell Big Red -6.5
This game will be played at Newman Arena at 12:00 ET on Sunday, December 22nd.
WHY BET THE CORNELL BIG RED:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-69 in favor of the Big Red.
- Not only will Cornell pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -6.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 158.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.
Will the Redbirds Win on the Road?
Illinois State Redbirds Recent Game/Games
Illinois State improved to 6-4 on the season with an 81-60 home win over Northern Illinois on Wednesday, December 18th. The Redbirds were -14 favorites and covered the spread, while the game’s total points of 141 slightly exceeded the O/U line of 139.5.
Illinois State led 36-28 at halftime and pulled away in the 2nd half, outscoring the Huskies 45-32.
Illinois State put up 81 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field and hitting 41.7% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 58.3%, with a 55.6% success rate on two-point attempts and 78.6% from the free-throw line.
Quentin Jones led the way with 27 points, despite shooting just 1-of-6 from three. Dalton Banks added 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting, and Chase Walker contributed 15 points, hitting 5-of-6 from the field. Johnny Kinziger and Jack Daugherty each connected on 4 threes, with Kinziger also dishing out 6 assists.
Illinois State’s defense gave up 60 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 50% from the field, hitting 30 of their 60 attempts. Inside the arc, they allowed 20 two-point baskets on 36 attempts, a 55% shooting rate.
From three-point range, the opposition connected on 10 of 24 shots, shooting 41%. Illinois State also sent them to the free-throw line 14 times, where they made 11, a 78% success rate. The Redbirds allowed 11 offensive rebounds.
Can the Cornell Offense Score Enough at Home?
Cornell improved to 6-3 on the season with an 88-80 road win over Cal on Tuesday. Entering the game as +9 point underdogs, the Big Red not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread. The total points for the game hit 168, just over the O/U line of 166.5.
Cornell took control early, leading 47-29 at halftime. While they allowed 51 points in the 2nd half, they managed to score 41 points of their own to secure the win.
Cornell put up 88 points in their last game, shooting 49.3% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 56.7%, thanks to hitting 68.6% of their two-point attempts, though they struggled from beyond the arc, making just 28.1% of their threes.
Joshua Ola-Joseph and Cooper Noard each contributed 21 points, with Ola-Joseph hitting 5 of 7 threes. AK Okereke led the team with 24 points, while Mady Sissoko was perfect from the field, going 6 for 6.
Even with Cornell giving up 80 points, their defense held the opposing team to 43% shooting from the field. The Big Red allowed 51% shooting on two-point attempts, with the other team hitting 16 of 31 shots inside the arc.
From three-point range, Cornell’s defense saw the opposition make 12 of 33 attempts, good for 36%. The other team also shot 75% from the free-throw line, converting 12 of 16 attempts. Cornell allowed 17 offensive rebounds in the game.