Saint Louis Billikens vs Illinois State Redbirds NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/15/24
Betting on today’s Billikens and Redbirds game? Catch the action at CEFCU Arena in Normal, IL, as the Redbirds hosts this showdown at 5:00 ET on MARQ. In this non-conference matchup, Saint Louis is favored by -1.5 against Illinois State. The over/under for the game is 150.5 points.
SAINT LOUIS BILLIKENS VS ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Illinois State Redbirds +1.5
This game will be played at CEFCU Arena at 5:00 ET on Sunday, December 15th.
WHY BET THE ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-71 in favor of the Redbirds.
- Not only will Illinois State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +1.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 150.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 145 points.
Will the Billikens Defense Show Up in Normal?
Saint Louis Billikens Recent Game/Games
The Billikens improved to 5-3 on the season with an 85-62 win over Chicago State on Sunday. Playing at home, Saint Louis came in as heavy favorites at -25 but didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 147 fell short of the 154.5 O/U line.
Saint Louis led 41-33 at halftime and tightened up defensively in the second half, allowing just 29 points while scoring 44 of their own.
Saint Louis put up 85 points in their latest game, shooting 48.3% from the field and 41.4% from three-point range, hitting 12 of 29 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 58.3%, and they connected on 75% of their free throws, going 15 for 20 from the line.
The Billikens dished out 19 assists and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds. Robbie Avila led the team with 19 points and 7 rebounds, while Gibson Jimerson and Noble Crawford each added 18 points, with Crawford hitting 3 of 4 threes. Kalu Anya was nearly perfect from the field, shooting 6 of 7 and finishing with 14 points and 9 rebounds.
Saint Louis struggled defensively, giving up 62 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 48% from the field. They gave up 17 two-point baskets on 31 attempts, a 54% shooting rate.
From beyond the arc, Saint Louis allowed 12 threes on 29 attempts, with their opponent shooting 41%. They also sent them to the free-throw line 20 times, where they converted 15, a 75% rate. Saint Louis gave up 14 offensive rebounds.
Will the Redbirds Defense Show Up at Home?
Illinois State evened their season record at 4-4 with a 72-61 win over Pacific on Saturday. The Redbirds were favored by 7.5 points and covered the spread with the victory.
Leading 33-29 at halftime, Illinois State outscored Pacific 39-32 in the second half. The game’s combined points of 133 fell short of the 141-point over/under line.
Illinois State put up 72 points in their latest game, shooting 43.4% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 52.8%. They hit 10 of 26 threes, shooting 38.5% from deep, and were strong at the free-throw line, connecting on 16 of 19 attempts for 84.2%.
Jack Daugherty was a standout, hitting 5 of 7 from three, while Chase Walker led the team with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Jazz Gardner added 15 points, shooting 66.7% overall, and Johnny Kinziger and Lamar Washington each contributed 14 points, with Washington hitting 3 of 5 from beyond the arc.
Illinois State’s defense gave up 61 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 43% from the field on 23 of 53 attempts. The Redbirds allowed 13 two-point baskets on 27 shots, which translates to a 48% shooting percentage.
From beyond the arc, Illinois State’s opponents hit 10 of 26 three-point attempts, good for 38%. The Redbirds also sent their opponents to the free-throw line 19 times, where they converted 16 free throws, shooting 84%. Illinois State gave up 7 offensive rebounds in the game.