Illinois State Redbirds vs Southern Illinois Salukis Matchup

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

Southern Illinois vs Illinois State Prediction

Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Salukis and Redbirds. The game is starting at 4:00 ET on ESPN+, and it's hosted by the Redbirds at CEFCU Arena in Normal, IL. Get ready to place your bets! The odds for this Missouri Valley conference game currently have Illinois State as the -6.5 point favorite with the over/under line sitting at 141.5 points.

Southern Illinois vs. Illinois State Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Southern Illinois Salukis at Illinois State Redbirds
Where: Normal at CEFCU Arena
Date: Sunday, January 5th
Betting Odds ILLST -6.5, SILL +233 | ILLST -290 O/U 141.5

Salukis Preview: Will the Salukis Pull Through as the Away Underdog?

Southern Illinois Salukis Recent Game/Games

The Salukis dropped to 3-9 on the season after a 68-53 home loss to Evansville on Wednesday. Southern Illinois, who were -7.5 point favorites, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread.

After trailing 42-31 at halftime, the Salukis managed just 22 points in the 2nd half while allowing 26. The combined points of 121 fell short of the 138.5 O/U line.

Salukis Offense Breakdown

Southern Illinois struggled offensively in their last game, scoring just 53 points on 31.1% shooting from the field. They hit only 19.4% of their three-point attempts, going 6-for-31 from deep, and finished with an effective field goal percentage of 36.1%.

The Salukis managed 13 offensive rebounds and 10 assists as a team. Tayshawn Comer led the way with 26 points on 61.5% shooting, including 66.7% from three-point range, while Cam Haffner contributed 20 points and 9 rebounds.

Salukis Team Defense

Southern Illinois put up a strong defensive performance, holding their opponent to 68 points on just 31% shooting from the field. They allowed 19 field goals on 61 attempts.

From beyond the arc, the Salukis limited their opponent to 6 threes on 31 attempts, a 19% shooting rate. They also gave up 13 offensive rebounds.

Redbirds Preview: Does Illinois State Have a Shot at a Home Win?

Illinois State improved to 8-5 on the season with a 74-68 win over Murray State on Thursday. The Redbirds, who were +7 underdogs, not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.

Leading 33-25 at halftime, Illinois State scored 41 points in the 2nd half while allowing 43. The total points for the game reached 142, surpassing the O/U line of 135.5.

Redbirds Offense Breakdown

Illinois State's offense put up 74 points in their last game, shooting 53.1% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 61.2%. They connected on 62.1% of their two-point attempts and hit 40% from beyond the arc, making 8 of 20 three-point shots. At the free-throw line, they were nearly perfect, converting 14 of 16 attempts for 87.5%.

JaCobi Wood led the way with 21 points, shooting 50% overall and 42.9% from three. Kylen Milton added 18 points, hitting 66.7% of his shots, while Johnny Kinziger, Caden Boser, and Malachi Poindexter each contributed 17 points. Boser was particularly efficient, shooting 77.8% from the field and 60% from three-point range.

Redbirds Team Defense

Illinois State's defense gave up 68 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 41% from the field, connecting on 20 of 48 attempts. Inside the arc, they allowed 12 baskets on 25 attempts, a 48% shooting rate.

From three-point range, Illinois State's opponents hit 8 of 23 shots, good for 34%. The Redbirds also sent them to the free-throw line 26 times, where they made 20, shooting 76%. Illinois State gave up 10 offensive rebounds.

Salukis vs Redbirds Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

In their last ten games away from home, the Salukis have a straight up record of 3-7 while going 4-4-1 vs the spread. The team's offense averaged 72 points per game in these contests.
When looking at their past five home matchups, Illinois State has an ATS record of 4-1 while averaging 76 per game. The team went 2-3 overall in these games.
Going back to their previous ten games as the underdog, Southern Illinois has an ATS mark of 2-7-1 while going 1-9 straight up.
In their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Redbirds have a straight up record of 4-6 and an ATS mark of 3-7.