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The Leathernecks and Skyhawks are set to face off at 8:30 ET on ESPN+. The Skyhawks will host the game at Kathleen and Tom Elam Center in Martin, TN. The over/under for this game is set at 152.5 points, and the Skyhawks are the home favorites against the Leathernecks in a Ohio Valley conference matchup.

WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS VS UT MARTIN SKYHAWKS BETTING PICK

The Pick: UT Martin Skyhawks -6

This game will be played at Kathleen and Tom Elam Center at 8:30 ET on Thursday, January 11th.

WHY BET THE UT MARTIN SKYHAWKS:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-68 in favor of the Skyhawks.
  • Not only will UT Martin pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -6.
  • The over/under is currently sitting at 152.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.

Will Western Illinois Pull Through as the Underdog Road Team?

Western Illinois will be looking to extend their five-game win streak when they take on UT Martin as six-point underdogs. So far this season, the Leathernecks have gone 10-6 overall and 3-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play.

As the underdog, Western Illinois has gone 3-6 this season and they are 3-5 on the road. Their average scoring margin on the road is -10.0 points per game, but they have won their last three road games.

As the underdog, Western Illinois has gone 4-5 vs. the spread this season and 6-6 overall. However, their ATS mark is 3-0 in their last three road games and 6-4 in their last 10 road contests.

This season, the over/under record for Western Illinois games is 3-9 and today's line of 152.5 is higher than the average over/under line in their games (140.5). So far, 11 of their games have finished with fewer points than today's line. Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 133 points.

In their recent matchup, the Western Illinois offense ended with 68 points against Lindenwood. They finished with an overall field goal percentage of 41.9% and made 6 threes. Leading the team in scoring was Jesiah West with 14 points. James Dent Jr. also added 14 points for the Leathernecks.

Western Illinois' defense has been playing well, ranking 65th nationally, with 66.2 points allowed per game. The Western Illinois defense is coming off a game in which they gave up a total of 57 points and allowed Lindenwood to connect on 6 threes.

Are UT Martin Ready for a Home Win?

UT Martin is 9-7 overall and 2-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play. They have gone 7-6 in non-conference games and are 4-5 on the road this season. The Skyhawks have won two straight road games and have an average scoring margin of -2.6 points per game on the road.

At home, UT Martin is 1-2 this season and 3-2 in their last five games. Over their last 10 home games, they have gone 7-3. For the season, they have been favored in five games and have a record of 3-2 as the favorite.

When looking at UT Martin's ATS record this season, they are currently 6-6. At home, they have yet to cover the spread this year, going 0-3. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, the Skyhawks are just 4-6 vs. the spread.

UT Martin's over/under record this season sits at 7-5 and today's line of 152.5 is lower than the average over/under line in their games this year (155.9). So far, their games have averaged 164.7 points and their matchups have finished with more points than today's OU line in eight of their 16 games. Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 156 points and their over/under record in their last 10 games is 5-3.

Coming off their recent game, the UT Martin offense tallied 72 points in a matchup against Eastern Illinois. Their field goal percentage for the game was 46.3%, and they made 5 threes. The team's top scorer is Jordan Sears, who enters today's matchup with an average of 20.2, while Jacob Crews also carries a PPG average of 16.9 into the game.

At present, the Skyhawks' defense is nationally ranked 298th, allowing 80.2 points per game. So far, the UT Martin defense is giving up an average of 9.4 offensive rebounds per game and are turning teams over 12.1 times per game (574th).