SIUE Cougars vs Western Illinois Leathernecks Matchup

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

Western Illinois vs SIUE Prediction

Betting on today's Leathernecks and Cougars game? Catch the action at Vadalabene Center in Edwardsville, IL, as the Cougars hosts this showdown at 9:00 ET on ESPNU. The odds for this Ohio Valley conference game currently have SIUE as the -7.5 point favorite with the over/under line sitting at 134.5 points.

Western Illinois vs. SIUE Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Western Illinois Leathernecks at SIUE Cougars
Where: Edwardsville at Vadalabene Center
Date: Thursday, January 2nd
Betting Odds SIUE -7.5, WILL +290 | SIUE -380 O/U 134.5

Leathernecks Preview: Is an Upset Waiting to Happen on the Road?

Western Illinois dropped to 4-6 on the season after a 71-65 road loss to Lindenwood on Saturday. The Leathernecks entered the game as +2 underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game hit 136, just over the 135.5 O/U line.

Trailing 36-25 at halftime, Western Illinois made a push in the second half, outscoring Lindenwood 40-35, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.

Leathernecks Offense Breakdown

Western Illinois put up 65 points in their last game, shooting 42.9% from the field and 27.3% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 48.2%, and they hit 68.8% of their free throws.

Ryan Myers and Jadis Jones both shot over 60%, with Myers hitting 4 of 7 threes. Marko Maletic added 19 points, while Markeith Browning and Myers each contributed 18.

Leathernecks Team Defense

Western Illinois gave up 71 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 48% from the field. They allowed 23 two-point field goals on 41 attempts, a 56% shooting rate.

From beyond the arc, the Leathernecks held their opponents to 26% shooting, with just 4 made threes on 15 attempts. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 18 times, where they converted 13 free throws for 72%.

Cougars Preview: Can SIUE Pull Out the Win as Home Favorites?

SIUE's season record dropped to 4-6 after an 80-64 road loss to Southeast Missouri State on Saturday. The Cougars, who entered the game as -1.5 favorites, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.

Trailing 45-37 at halftime, SIUE struggled to close the gap in the second half, scoring just 27 points while allowing 35. The game’s total points of 144 went over the pre-game O/U line of 140.5.

Cougars Offense Breakdown

SIUE's offense managed 64 points in their last game, shooting 42.6% from the field and 27.3% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 48.1%, and they went 12-of-17 from the free-throw line, hitting 70.6% of their attempts.

The Cougars failed to grab an offensive rebound, finishing with 10 assists. BJ Ward led the way with 18 points and 4 assists, hitting 4-of-10 from three-point range. Brendan Terry and Teddy Washington Jr. each added 17 points, with Terry shooting 77.8% from the field.

Cougars Team Defense

SIUE's defense struggled, giving up 80 points on 48% shooting. They allowed 23 two-pointers on 53% shooting.

From beyond the arc, the Cougars gave up 7 threes on 36% shooting. Their opponent also hit 13/15 free throws, shooting 86% from the line.

Leathernecks vs Cougars Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

In their last three games away from home, the Leathernecks have a straight up record of 1-2 while going 1-2 vs the spread. The team's offense averaged 65 points per game in these contests.
Through their last ten home games, SIUE has an ATS record of just 3-7. However, their overall record was 2-8 while averaging 65 points per game.
In their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Leathernecks have a straight up record of 3-7 and an ATS mark of 3-7.
As the betting favorite, the Cougars have an ATS record of 2-1 in their last three games. In these matchups, their straight up record was 2-1.