Northern Illinois Huskies vs Eastern Michigan Eagles NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/4/25
Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Huskies versus the Eagles? Tip off is at at 2:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti, MI. The over/under for this Mid-American conference contest is set at 146.5 points, with Eastern Michigan being favored by -7.5 at home against Northern Illinois.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES VS EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Eastern Michigan Eagles -7.5
This game will be played at George Gervin GameAbove Center at 2:00 ET on Saturday, January 4th.
WHY BET THE EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-69 in favor of the Eagles.
- Not only will Eastern Michigan pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -7.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 146.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Do the Huskies Have What it Takes on the Road?
Northern Illinois dropped to 1-8 on the season after an 81-60 road loss to Illinois State on Wednesday. The Huskies entered the game as +14 underdogs and failed to cover the spread.
After trailing 36-28 at halftime, Northern Illinois allowed 45 points in the 2nd half while scoring 32. The game’s total points of 141.5 went over the pre-game O/U line of 139.5.
Northern Illinois struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 36.7% from the field and 20.7% from three-point range, hitting 6 of 29 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 41.7%, and they managed only 5 offensive rebounds, finishing with 10 assists as a team.
Quentin Jones played the full 40 minutes and scored 27 points, shooting 50% from the field despite going 1 for 6 from beyond the arc. Dalton Banks was efficient, hitting 8 of 10 shots and grabbing 8 rebounds, while Chase Walker was 5 for 6 from the field, including a perfect 1 for 1 from three-point range.
Defensively, Northern Illinois struggled, giving up 81 points on 50% shooting from the field. They allowed their opponent to hit 20 of 36 two-point attempts, a 55% success rate.
From beyond the arc, Northern Illinois allowed 10 threes on 24 attempts, a 41% shooting percentage. They also sent their opponent to the line 14 times, where they made 11 free throws (78%).
Does Eastern Michigan Stand a Chance at Home?
Eastern Michigan Eagles Recent Game/Games
Eastern Michigan dropped to 5-6 on the season after an 86-64 road loss to Davidson on Saturday, December 28th. The Eagles entered the game as +14 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 150, surpassing the O/U line of 143.5.
Eastern Michigan found themselves in a 41-21 hole at halftime but managed to score 43 points in the 2nd half. However, they allowed 45 points to Davidson after the break, preventing any chance of a comeback.
Connor Kochera was the standout for Eastern Michigan, putting up 34 points on 11-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. He also contributed 5 rebounds and 3 assists in 36 minutes. Bobby Durkin added 17 points, hitting 3 threes, while Da’Sean Nelson chipped in 16 points, going 5-of-9 from the field and perfect from deep.
As a team, the Eagles shot 40.4% from the field, with an effective field goal percentage of 49.1%. They connected on 9-of-27 threes (33.3%) and hit 9-of-12 free throws (75%). Eastern Michigan managed just 4 offensive rebounds and finished with 12 assists in the game.
Eastern Michigan’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 86 points on 53% shooting. They allowed 56% shooting from two-point range, with the opposing team hitting 14 of 25 attempts.
From beyond the arc, Eastern Michigan’s opponents shot 50%, making 12 of 24 three-pointers. They also sent the other team to the line 31 times, where they converted 22 free throws at a 71% rate.