Illinois State Redbirds vs Northern Iowa Panthers Matchup

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

Illinois State vs Northern Iowa Prediction

Betting on today's Redbirds and Panthers game? Catch the action at McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, IA, as the Panthers hosts this showdown at 6:00 ET on ESPNU. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 140.5 points, and Northern Iowa is favored by -4.5 to win at home against Illinois State.

Illinois State vs. Northern Iowa Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Illinois State Redbirds at Northern Iowa Panthers
Where: Cedar Falls at McLeod Center
Date: Saturday, February 8th
Betting Odds NIOWA -4.5, ILLST +162 | NIOWA -196 O/U 140.5

Redbirds Preview: Will Illinois State Secure A Victory as Road Underdogs?

Illinois State improved to 14-9 on the season with an 81-79 road win over UIC on Wednesday. The Redbirds entered the game as +3.5 point underdogs and not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.

Illinois State led 45-37 at halftime, but UIC made a push in the second half, outscoring the Redbirds 42-36. The game’s total points of 160 went over the pre-game line of 148.5.

Redbirds Offense Breakdown

Illinois State's offense was firing on all cylinders in their latest game, putting up 81 points while shooting 51.9% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 61.5%, thanks in part to their 47.8% shooting from beyond the arc, hitting 11 of 23 attempts.

Chase Walker led the way with 31 points and 9 rebounds, shooting 71.4% from the field. Tyem Freeman contributed 18 points, hitting 3 of 4 from deep, while Jordan Davis knocked down 5 threes, finishing with 17 points.

Redbirds Team Defense

Illinois State struggled defensively, giving up 79 points on 49% shooting. Their opponents hit 56% of their two-point attempts, going 18/32 from inside the arc.

From three-point range, Illinois State allowed 8/21 shooting, or 38%. They also sent their opponents to the line 25 times, where they converted 19 free throws (76%).

Panthers Preview: Do the Panthers Have a Shot at a Home Win?

Northern Iowa Panthers Recent Game/Games

The Panthers improved to 14-9 on the season with a 66-61 road win over Missouri State on Wednesday. Northern Iowa entered the game as 4-point favorites and covered the spread with the victory.

After leading 34-30 at halftime, the Panthers scored 32 points in the 2nd half while holding Missouri State to 31. The total points for the game were 127, coming in under the O/U line of 132.5.

Panthers Offense Breakdown

Northern Iowa's offense put up 66 points in their last game, shooting 41.2% from the field. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 5 of 20 attempts for 25%, leading to an effective field goal percentage of 47.1%. At the free-throw line, the Panthers connected on 19 of 26 attempts, good for 73.1%.

Jacob Hutson and Trey Campbell each scored 20 points, with Campbell hitting 4 threes on 9 attempts. Hutson shot 63.6% overall, while Michael Osei-Bonsu was 6 of 8 from the field. Vincent Brady contributed 5 assists, and Northern Iowa grabbed 10 offensive rebounds as a team.

Panthers Team Defense

Despite Northern Iowa's defense allowing 61 points on 45% shooting, they managed to limit their opponent's three-point effectiveness, holding them to 4/16 from deep. The Panthers also sent their opponents to the line 17 times, where they converted 11 free throws.

Inside the arc, Northern Iowa's defense gave up 19 two-point baskets on 35 attempts, a 54% shooting rate. They also controlled the boards, allowing just 5 offensive rebounds.

Redbirds vs Panthers Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Across their last five road contests, Illinois State has a 4-1 record vs the spread. Their overall mark in these games was 2-3, while averaging 65 points per game.
In their last five home games, Northern Iowa has averaged 65 points per game while allowing 68. The team's record in this stretch was 3-2 while going 3-2 vs. the spread.
In their last five games as the betting underdog, the Redbirds have a strong straight up record of 3-2. In addition, their ATS record was 5-0 in these scenarios.
In their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Panthers have a straight up record of 7-3 and an ATS mark of 7-3.