Northern Iowa Panthers vs Western Illinois Leathernecks Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Western Illinois vs Northern Iowa NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Cedar Falls.

Western Illinois vs Northern Iowa Prediction

The Leathernecks and Panthers are set to face off at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The Panthers will host the game at McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, IA. The over/under for this game is set at 134.5 points, and Northern Iowa is favored by -14.5 against Western Illinois in a non-conference matchup.

Western Illinois vs. Northern Iowa Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Western Illinois Leathernecks at Northern Iowa Panthers
Where: Cedar Falls at McLeod Center
Date: Tuesday, November 19th
Betting Odds NIOWA -14.5, WILL +677 | NIOWA -1137 O/U 134.5

Leathernecks Preview: Can the Leathernecks Grab a Win on the Road?

Western Illinois Leathernecks Recent Game/Games

Western Illinois edged out a 63-61 win over Central Arkansas on Saturday, November 16th. The Leathernecks were -7.5 favorites going into the game, but they didn’t cover the spread. The combined points of 124 fell short of the O/U line of 137.

Western Illinois trailed 28-23 at halftime but turned things around by scoring 40 points in the 2nd half while holding Central Arkansas to 33 points.

Leathernecks Offense Breakdown

Western Illinois struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 38.9% from the field and 27.6% from three-point range, finishing with 63 points. Their effective field goal percentage was 46.3%, and they hit 13 of 20 free throws (65%).

Layne Taylor led the way with 21 points, hitting 5 of 13 from deep, while Ryan Myers added 18 points despite shooting 26.1% overall and 25% from three. Sean Smith was efficient, going 6 of 9 from the field and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc.

Leathernecks Team Defense

Western Illinois put up a strong defensive effort, holding their opponent to just 61 points on 38% shooting from the field. They allowed 21 field goals on 54 attempts.

From beyond the arc, Western Illinois limited their opponent to 8 made threes on 29 attempts, a 27% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 20 times, where they made 13 for 65%.

Panthers Preview: Do the Panthers Stand a Chance at Home?

Northern Iowa fell to Wichita State 79-73 on Thursday, November 14th. The Panthers, who were +7.5 point underdogs, kept the game closer than expected.

After trailing 34-32 at halftime, Northern Iowa scored 41 points in the 2nd half but allowed 45. The combined points of 152 just missed the O/U line of 152.5.

Panthers Offense Breakdown

Northern Iowa put up 73 points in their last game, shooting 47.5% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 54.2%, with 17 assists and 6 offensive rebounds.

Jacob Hutson led the way with 22 points, hitting 3 of 6 from three-point range. Corey Washington added 19 points, making both of his three-point attempts, and Tytan Anderson contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Panthers Team Defense

Despite Northern Iowa's defensive efforts, they gave up 79 points, with the opposing team shooting 42% from the field. The Panthers allowed 21 two-point field goals on 48 attempts, a 43% shooting rate.

From beyond the arc, the other team hit 6 of 15 three-pointers, shooting 40%. They also went to the line 24 times, converting 19 free throws for 79%. Northern Iowa gave up 14 offensive rebounds.

Leathernecks vs Panthers Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Across the Leathernecks last ten road games, the team averaged 65 points per game while allowing 64. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 7-3, while going 7-3 straight-up.
Through their last ten home contests, the Panthers offense has averaged 73 points per game while allowing an average of 75. Northern Iowa posted an overall record of 4-6 while going 5-5 ATS.
Going back to their last five games as the underdog, the Leathernecks have a straight up record of 2-3. But, their mark vs the spread was just 2-3.
Across their last five matchups as the betting favorite, the Panthers have an overall record of 3-2 while going 2-3 against the spread.