Norfolk State Spartans vs Illinois State Redbirds Betting Pick & Prediction 12/9/23
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Spartans and Redbirds. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Redbirds at CEFCU Arena in Normal, IL. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under goal line for this matchup is currently at 133 points, and the Redbirds are favored to win at home against the Spartans.
NORFOLK STATE SPARTANS VS ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Illinois State Redbirds -5.5
This game will be played at CEFCU Arena at 7:00 ET on Saturday, December 9th.
WHY BET THE ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-68 in favor of the Redbirds.
- Not only will Illinois State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -5.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 133 points, and we like the over with a projected 144 points.
No Pressure for Norfolk State as Away Dogs
Norfolk State is getting ready for their 10th game of the season, and so far they have a 6-3 record. The Spartans have played four games on the road and have a 2-2 record, while at home they are 2-1. Heading into today’s game, Norfolk State has a 4-3 ATS record. On the road this season, Norfolk State is 3-1 ATS, and in their last ten road games, they are 7-3 (ATS).
Looking at their over/under performance through nine games, Norfolk State has an over/under record of 3-4-0, with their games averaging 139.6 points per game on average. In their most recent three games, the Spartans’ over/under record is 2-1, with their games averaging 142 points per game.
The Norfolk State offense is coming off a game in which they scored 63 points vs. VCU. Overall their field goal percentage was 42.6% while connecting on 2 threes. Jamarii Thomas led the scoring for the Spartans, contributing 17 points. Additionally, Allen Betrand chipped in with 17 points.
Currently, the Spartans’ defense holds the 73rd rank in the nation, allowing 66.8 points per game. The Norfolk State defense is coming off a game in which they gave up a total of 60 points and allowed VCU to connect on 8 threes.
Will the Redbirds Make it Happen at Home?
The Norfolk State Spartans come into this game with a 6-3 record. In their previous three home games, which includes last year, Illinois State is undefeated with a 3-0 record. At the moment, Illinois State has a below .500 ATS record of 2-4. In terms of ATS performance, the Redbirds are 1-3 on the road and 1-1 at home.
In nine games, Illinois State comes in with an over/under mark of 2-4-0, with their games averaging 132.7 points per game. When analyzing the Redbirds’ last five games, they have produced a combined average of 133 points per game and an over/under record of 2-3.
The Illinois State offense is coming off a game where they scored 69 points against UIC. They posted a field goal percentage of 58.1% and connected on 3 threes. The top scorer for the Redbirds was Darius Burford with 20 points, while Dalton Banks also chipped in with 19 points.
This season, the Illinois State defense has been impressive, holding the 59th position in the country while permitting an average of 65.8 points per contest. In their most recent game, the Illinois State defense struggled to defend the three-point line, as UIC knocked down 9 three-pointers on their way to 64 points.