Illinois State Redbirds vs Indiana State Sycamores Matchup

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

Indiana State vs Illinois State Prediction

Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Sycamores versus the Redbirds? Tip off is at at 8:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on MARQ. The game will be played at CEFCU Arena in Normal, IL. The odds for this Missouri Valley conference game currently have Illinois State as the -7.5 point favorite with the over/under line sitting at 154.5 points.

Indiana State vs. Illinois State Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Indiana State Sycamores at Illinois State Redbirds
Where: Normal at CEFCU Arena
Date: Tuesday, January 21st
Betting Odds ILLST -7.5, INDST +260 | ILLST -325 O/U 154.5

Sycamores Preview: Will Indiana State Shock Everyone at CEFCU Arena?

Indiana State Sycamores Recent Game/Games

Indiana State fell to 7-10 on the season after a 71-53 home loss to Drake on Saturday. The Sycamores entered the game as +7 underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 124, falling short of the 138.5 O/U line.

After trailing 32-25 at halftime, Indiana State couldn’t close the gap, scoring 28 points in the 2nd half while allowing 39 points to Drake.

Sycamores Offense Breakdown

In their last game, Indiana State struggled offensively, scoring just 53 points on 36% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 40%, and they hit only 4 of 23 three-point attempts, shooting 17.4% from deep. They were more efficient inside the arc, connecting on 51.9% of their two-point shots.

The Sycamores did hit 81.2% of their free throws, going 13 for 16 from the line, and grabbed 13 offensive rebounds. Mitch Mascari was a bright spot, hitting 5 of 7 from three-point range and leading the team with 19 points. Bennett Stirtz added 16 points and 9 assists, though he struggled from beyond the arc, making just 1 of 6 attempts.

Sycamores Team Defense

Despite Indiana State's strong defensive effort, they allowed 71 points on 36% shooting from the field. The Sycamores gave up 51% shooting on two-point attempts, with the opposing team making 14 of 27 shots.

From beyond the arc, Indiana State held their opponent to just 4 made threes on 23 attempts, a 17% shooting performance. The Sycamores also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 16 times, where they converted 13 free throws, shooting 81%.

Redbirds Preview: Is It the Redbirds Game to Lose at Home?

Illinois State Redbirds Recent Game/Games

Illinois State improved to 10-8 on the season with a 74-68 win over Missouri State on Saturday. Despite being -8.5 point favorites at home, the Redbirds didn’t cover the spread.

After trailing 31-25 at halftime, Illinois State turned things around by scoring 49 points in the second half while allowing 37. The total points for the game went over the 132.5 line.

Redbirds Offense Breakdown

Illinois State put up 74 points in their last game, shooting 46.2% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 55.8%. They hit 10 of 27 from beyond the arc, good for 37%, and connected on 16 of 21 free throws, shooting 76.2% from the line. The Redbirds also grabbed 12 offensive rebounds and dished out 14 assists.

Dez White led the way with 24 points, hitting 7 of 11 from deep and shooting 66.7% overall. Johnny Kinziger added 19 points, while Landon Wolf contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds. Dalton Banks also chipped in 13 points, shooting 66.7% from the field and 2 of 3 from three-point range.

Redbirds Team Defense

Illinois State gave up 68 points in their last game, allowing the opposing team to shoot 46% from the field. The Redbirds struggled to contain two-point shots, with the opponent hitting 56% of their attempts (14/25).

From beyond the arc, the opponent shot 37%, making 10 of 27 three-pointers. Illinois State also sent them to the free-throw line 21 times, where they converted 76% of their shots (16/21). The Redbirds allowed 12 offensive rebounds.

Sycamores vs Redbirds Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

When looking at their past three road matchups, Indiana State has an ATS record of 1-2 while averaging 75 per game. The team went 1-2 overall in these games.
When looking at their past five home matchups, Illinois State has an ATS record of 4-1 while averaging 72 per game. The team went 2-3 overall in these games.
Going back to their previous ten games as the underdog, Indiana State has an ATS mark of 5-5 while going 3-7 straight up.
Looking back on the team's last ten games as the favorite, the Redbirds have a straight up record of 4-6. Their record vs the spread in these games was 3-7.