Illinois State Redbirds vs Northern Iowa Panthers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 2/8/25
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Redbirds and Panthers. The game is starting at 6:00 ET on ESPNU, and it’s hosted by the Panthers at McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, IA. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this Missouri Valley conference contest is set at 140.5 points, with Northern Iowa being favored by -4.5 at home against Illinois State.
ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS VS NORTHERN IOWA PANTHERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Northern Iowa Panthers -4.5
This game will be played at McLeod Center at 6:00 ET on Saturday, February 8th.
WHY BET THE NORTHERN IOWA PANTHERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-70 in favor of the Panthers.
- Not only will Northern Iowa pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -4.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 140.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Is an Upset Waiting to Happen on the Road?
Illinois State improved to 14-9 on the season with an 81-79 win over UIC on Wednesday. The Redbirds were +3.5 point underdogs going into the game, but they not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.
Illinois State led 45-37 at halftime but allowed 42 points in the 2nd half while scoring 36. The game’s total points reached 160, surpassing the over/under line of 148.5.
Illinois State put up 81 points in their last game, shooting 51.9% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 61.5%. They connected on 47.8% of their three-point attempts, going 11-for-23 from deep, and shot 55.2% on two-pointers.
Chase Walker led the way with 31 points and 9 rebounds, shooting 71.4% from the field. Tyem Freeman added 18 points, hitting 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, while Jordan Davis knocked down 5 threes, finishing with 17 points.
Illinois State’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 79 points on 49% shooting from the field. They allowed their opponent to hit 56% of their two-point attempts, with 18 makes on 32 tries.
From beyond the arc, Illinois State’s defense conceded 8 threes on 21 attempts, a 38% shooting clip. They also sent the opposing team to the line 25 times, where they converted 19 free throws, shooting 76%. The Redbirds allowed 8 offensive rebounds.
Is A Home Victory Likely for the Favored Panthers?
Northern Iowa Panthers Recent Game/Games
The Panthers improved to 14-9 on the season with a 66-61 road win over Missouri State on Wednesday. Northern Iowa entered the game as 4-point favorites and covered the spread with the victory.
UNI led 34-30 at halftime and maintained their lead by outscoring the Bears 32-31 in the second half. The game’s total points of 127 fell short of the 132.5-point O/U line.
In their last game, Northern Iowa’s offense put up 66 points, shooting 41.2% from the field. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 25% of their threes (5/20), leading to an effective field goal percentage of 47.1%. At the free-throw line, they connected on 73.1%, making 19 of 26 attempts.
Jacob Hutson and Trey Campbell each scored 20 points, with Campbell knocking down 4 of 9 threes at 44.4%. Michael Osei-Bonsu was efficient, shooting 75% (6/8), while Vincent Brady II added 13 points and 5 assists, hitting 50% from deep (2/4).
Despite Northern Iowa allowing 61 points, their defense struggled to contain their opponent inside, giving up 54% shooting on two-point attempts (19/35). However, they managed to limit the damage from beyond the arc, holding their opponent to just 4 made threes on 16 attempts, a 25% shooting performance.
The Panthers sent their opponent to the free-throw line 17 times, where they converted 11 shots, shooting 64% from the stripe. Northern Iowa also did a solid job on the boards, giving up only 5 offensive rebounds.