Western Illinois Leathernecks vs SIUE Cougars NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/2/25

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Leathernecks and Cougars. The game is starting at 9:00 ET on ESPNU, and it’s hosted by the Cougars at Vadalabene Center in Edwardsville, IL. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this game is set at 134.5 points, and SIUE is favored by -7.5 vs. Western Illinois in a Ohio Valley conference matchup.

WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS VS SIUE COUGARS BETTING PICK

The Pick: SIUE Cougars -7.5

This game will be played at Vadalabene Center at 9:00 ET on Thursday, January 2nd.

WHY BET THE SIUE COUGARS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-69 in favor of the Cougars.
• Not only will SIUE pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -7.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 134.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 148 points.

Can Western Illinois Lock in a Road Win?

Western Illinois fell to 4-6 on the season after a 71-65 road loss to Lindenwood on Saturday. Entering the game as +2 underdogs, the Leathernecks not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game hit 136, just over the O/U line of 135.5.

After trailing 36-25 at halftime, Western Illinois made a push in the 2nd half, outscoring Lindenwood 40-35, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.

Western Illinois put up 65 points in their last game, shooting 42.9% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 48.2%, with a 52.9% success rate on two-pointers and 27.3% from beyond the arc, hitting 6 of 22 threes. At the free-throw line, they connected on 68.8%, making 11 of 16 attempts.

Ryan Myers and Jadis Jones were key contributors, both playing 38 minutes. Myers shot 63.6% overall, hitting 4 of 7 from three, while Jones went 8 for 13 from the field. Marko Maletic added 19 points, and Markeith Browning II and Myers each scored 18, though Browning struggled, shooting just 27.8%.

Western Illinois gave up 71 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 48% from the field. They struggled to defend inside, allowing 56% shooting on two-point attempts (23/41), but they did a better job on the perimeter, holding opponents to 26% from three-point range (4/15).

From the free-throw line, Western Illinois’ opponents shot 72%, making 13 of 18 attempts. The Leathernecks also allowed 11 offensive rebounds in the game.

Will the Cougars Secure A Victory as Home Favorites?

SIUE fell to 4-6 on the season after an 80-64 road loss to Southeast Missouri State on Saturday. The Cougars entered the game as -1.5 point favorites but failed to cover the spread.

SIUE trailed 45-37 at halftime and managed just 27 points in the 2nd half while allowing 35. The game’s total points of 144 exceeded the O/U line of 140.5.

SIUE’s offense put up 64 points in their last game, shooting 42.6% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 48.1%, with a 53.1% success rate on two-point attempts. From beyond the arc, they hit just 27.3% of their shots, connecting on 6 of 22 attempts.

At the free-throw line, the Cougars shot 70.6%, making 12 of 17 attempts. They failed to grab any offensive rebounds and recorded 10 assists. BJ Ward led the team with 18 points, hitting 4 of 10 from three-point range, while Brendan Terry and Teddy Washington Jr. each added 17 points.

SIUE’s defense gave up 80 points, with the opposing team shooting 48% from the field, hitting 30 of their 62 attempts. Inside the arc, they allowed 23 two-point baskets on 43 attempts, a 53% shooting rate.

From three-point range, SIUE’s opponents connected on 7 of 19 shots, shooting 36%. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 15 times, where they made 13, an 86% success rate. SIUE allowed 8 offensive rebounds.