Illinois State Redbirds vs Murray State Racers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/2/25
Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Redbirds versus the Racers? Tip off is at at 8:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at CFSB Center in Murray, KY. The over/under for this game is set at 138.5 points, and Murray State is favored by -5.5 vs. Illinois State in a Missouri Valley conference matchup.
ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS VS MURRAY STATE RACERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Murray State Racers -5.5
This game will be played at CFSB Center at 8:00 ET on Thursday, January 2nd.
WHY BET THE MURRAY STATE RACERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-70 in favor of the Racers.
- Not only will Murray State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -5.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 138.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Does Illinois State Have A Chance at CFSB Center?
Illinois State dropped to 7-5 on the season after a 73-67 loss to UIC on Sunday. The Redbirds were -4.5 favorites at home but failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 140, just under the O/U line of 142.5.
Illinois State led 35-33 at halftime but were outscored 40-32 in the second half, leading to the loss. They’ll need to tighten up defensively and find more consistency on offense as they look to bounce back in their next game.
Illinois State managed just 67 points in their latest game, shooting 39.7% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 44.8%. Their struggles from beyond the arc were evident, hitting only 6 of 26 attempts for a 23.1% success rate, while connecting on 53.1% of their two-point shots.
At the free-throw line, the Redbirds converted 15 of 21 attempts, and they grabbed 9 offensive rebounds. Malachi Poindexter led the way with 20 points, despite shooting just 33.3% overall and from three-point range. Sasa Ciani contributed 16 points and 9 rebounds, hitting 60% of his shots.
Illinois State’s defense gave up 73 points while holding the opposing team to 39% shooting from the field. They allowed 17 two-point field goals on 32 attempts, a 53% shooting rate.
From beyond the arc, the Redbirds limited their opponent to 6 threes on 26 attempts, a 23% success rate. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 21 times, where they converted 15 attempts for 71%.
Will Murray State Win at Home?
Murray State evened their record at 6-6 with a 71-68 home win over Loyola Chicago on Wednesday, December 25th. The Racers were +2.5 point underdogs going into the game and covered the spread with the win. The total points for the game were 139, just over the pre-game O/U line of 137.5.
After trailing 36-34 at halftime, Murray State stepped up in the 2nd half, scoring 37 points while holding Loyola Chicago to 32 points.
Murray State put up 71 points in their last game, shooting 48.8% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 55.8%. They connected on 41.2% of their three-point attempts, going 7-for-17 from beyond the arc, and hit 53.8% of their two-point shots, finishing 14-for-26 inside the arc.
The Racers also made 22 of 33 free throws, shooting 66.7% from the line, and grabbed 6 offensive rebounds. Terence Harcum, KyeRon Lindsay, and Miles Rubin each scored 16 points, with Rubin going a perfect 7-for-7 from the field. JaCobi Wood dished out 6 assists, adding 11 points despite shooting just 28.6% overall.
Despite giving up 68 points, Murray State’s defense struggled to contain their opponent, who shot 48% from the field. The Racers allowed 53% shooting on two-point attempts, with the other team converting 14 of 26 shots inside the arc.
From beyond the three-point line, Murray State’s opponent hit 7 of 17 attempts, good for 41% shooting. The Racers also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 33 times, where they made 22 free throws, shooting 66%. Murray State gave up 6 offensive rebounds in the game.