Northern Illinois Huskies vs Ohio Bobcats NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/11/25
Betting on today’s Huskies and Bobcats game? Catch the action at Convocation Center (OH) in Athens, OH, as the Bobcats hosts this showdown at 1:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 149 points, and Ohio is favored by -20.5 to win at home against Northern Illinois.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES VS OHIO BOBCATS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Northern Illinois Huskies +20.5
This game will be played at Convocation Center (OH) at 1:00 ET on Saturday, January 11th.
WHY BET THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-70 in favor of the Bobcats.
- Even though we have Ohio winning straight-up, we like Northern Illinois at +20.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 149 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.
Taking a Look at the Huskies Chances in Athens
Northern Illinois Huskies Recent Game
The Huskies fell to 1-10 on the season after a 68-50 loss to Kent State on Tuesday. Playing at home, NIU entered the game as +12.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 118, well under the O/U line of 139.5.
Northern Illinois trailed 35-21 at halftime and couldn’t close the gap in the 2nd half, where they were outscored 33-29.
Northern Illinois struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 30.5% from the field and 25.9% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 37.3%, and they hit only 46.7% of their free throws.
VonCameron Davis led the way with 31 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 50% overall, though he was just 1-for-6 from beyond the arc. James Dent Jr. added 21 points, connecting on 3 of 10 three-point attempts.
Northern Illinois put on a defensive clinic, holding their opponent to just 68 points on 30% shooting from the field. They were particularly effective inside, limiting the opposition to 34% shooting on two-point attempts (11/32).
From beyond the arc, Northern Illinois kept the pressure on, as their opponent managed only 7 threes on 27 attempts, a 25% success rate. The Huskies also sent them to the line 15 times, where they hit just 7 free throws (46%).
Can the Bobcats Offense Score Enough at Home?
Ohio moved to 7-6 on the season with an 88-79 road win over Buffalo on Tuesday. The Bobcats were -11.5 favorites but didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 167 exceeded the O/U line of 153.5.
Ohio led 37-20 at halftime but allowed 59 points in the 2nd half while scoring 51 of their own.
Ohio’s offense put up 88 points in their last game, shooting 50.8% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 56.9%. They connected on 59.5% of their two-point attempts and 34.8% from beyond the arc, hitting 8 threes. At the free-throw line, they shot 73.7%, making 14 of 19 attempts.
AJ Clayton led the way with 27 points, shooting 4 of 8 from three, while Tyson Dunn added 21 points and 8 assists, hitting 5 of 9 from deep. Aidan Hadaway contributed 17 points and 16 rebounds, shooting 70% from the field. The Bobcats also recorded 19 assists and 12 offensive rebounds in the win.
Ohio’s defense gave up 79 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 42% from the field. They allowed 53% shooting on two-point attempts, as the other team went 22/41 inside the arc.
From three-point range, Ohio’s defense held their opponents to 25% shooting, with just 7 made threes on 27 attempts. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 22 times, where they made 14 free throws, shooting 63%. Ohio gave up 11 offensive rebounds in the game.