Illinois State Redbirds vs McNeese State Cowboys Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Illinois State vs McNeese State NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Saint Thomas.

Illinois State vs McNeese State Prediction

Planning on watching today's Redbirds and Cowboys game? Catch the action at Sports and Fitness Center in Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands, as the Cowboys hosts this showdown at 3:00 ET on ESPN. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 137 points, with McNeese State being favored by -10.5 over Illinois State.

Illinois State vs. McNeese State Matchup At A Glance

  • Sport: NCAAB
  • Teams: Illinois State Redbirds at McNeese State Cowboys
  • Where: Saint Thomas at Sports and Fitness Center
  • Date: Friday, November 22nd
  • Betting Odds MCNST -10.5, ILLST +448 | MCNST -638 O/U 137

Redbirds Preview: Are the Redbirds Ready for a Road Win?

Illinois State picked up an 85-75 road win over Ohio on Tuesday, November 12th. The Redbirds entered the game as +2.5 point underdogs but not only won, they covered the spread.

Illinois State led 40-37 at halftime and outscored Ohio 45-38 in the 2nd half. The game’s total points reached 160, surpassing the O/U line of 146.

Redbirds Offense Breakdown

Illinois State's offense was firing on all cylinders, putting up 85 points with a 61.2% field goal percentage. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 71.4%, thanks in part to hitting 52.6% from beyond the arc (10/19) and 66.7% on two-point attempts (20/30). They also excelled at the free-throw line, making 15 of 16 attempts for a 93.8% rate.

Dalton Banks led the way with 23 points and 5 rebounds, while AJ Brown added 20 points, hitting 4 of 8 from three. Caden Boser was perfect from the field, going 6 for 6 overall and 4 for 4 from three, finishing with 16 points in just 17 minutes.

Redbirds Team Defense

Illinois State's defense gave up 75 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 47% from the field on 26 of 55 attempts. Inside the arc, the Redbirds allowed 53% shooting, as the other team hit 16 of 30 two-point shots.

From three-point range, Illinois State's defense allowed 10 made threes on 25 attempts, a 40% shooting rate. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 16 times, where they converted 13 for 81%. The Redbirds gave up 8 offensive rebounds.

Cowboys Preview: Will the Cowboys Defense Show Up at Home?

McNeese State Cowboys Recent Game/Games

McNeese State picked up a 68-61 win over North Texas on Monday, November 18th. The Cowboys were favored by 3.5 points and covered the spread with the win. The total points for the game were 129, just over the O/U line of 128.5.

McNeese State jumped out to a 32-19 lead at halftime, but allowed 42 points in the 2nd half while scoring 36 of their own. Despite the defensive lapse, they held on for the win.

Cowboys Offense Breakdown

McNeese State's offense put up 68 points in their last game, shooting 44.2% from the field. They hit just 4 of 17 from beyond the arc, connecting at a 23.5% rate, but were more efficient inside, making 57.7% of their two-point attempts.

At the free-throw line, the Cowboys went 26 for 39, hitting 66.7%. Sincere Parker led the team with 18 points, despite shooting just 1 of 6 from three-point range.

Cowboys Team Defense

Despite McNeese State's defensive efforts, they sent their opponents to the free-throw line 39 times, where they converted 26 attempts, accounting for 66% of their free throws. From the field, McNeese allowed 61 points on 44% shooting, with their opponents hitting 19 of 43 shots.

Inside the arc, McNeese gave up 15 two-point baskets on 26 attempts, a 57% shooting rate. However, they limited three-point damage, with their opponents making just 4 of 17 threes, shooting 23% from deep. McNeese also allowed 10 offensive rebounds.

Redbirds vs Cowboys Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

  • Across their last five road contests, Illinois State has been good against the spread posting a mark of 4-1. Their overall mark in these games was 3-2, while averaging 71 points per game.
  • In their last three games at home, the Cowboys have a straight up record of 0-3 while going 1-2 vs. the spread. The team averaged 67 points per game in this stretch.
  • The Redbirds have played well in their last five games as the betting underdog, going 4-1 straight up and 5-0 against the spread.
  • Spanning across their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Cowboys have gone 5-5 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 9-1.

Illinois State vs McNeese State Prediction & Free Pick

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