Southern Illinois vs Illinois State Prediction College Basketball Picks 1/5/25

The Southern Illinois Salukis are visiting the Illinois State Redbirds on Sunday, January 5th at the CEFCU Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Southern Illinois Salukis vs Illinois State Redbirds Prediction. We will examine:

The Illinois State Redbirds’ recent form and player performance

The Southern Illinois Salukis’ recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Illinois State Redbirds

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Southern Illinois Salukis

Recent betting trends in games played between Southern Illinois Salukis and Illinois State Redbirds

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Southern Illinois Salukis vs Illinois State Redbirds game

Illinois State Redbirds Preview

The Illinois State Redbirds have a 9-5 record this season and are sitting in the 10th place of the Missouri Valley. Illinois State is coming off a 74-68 win in Murray State. The Redbirds are 10-3 against the spread, and 7-5-1 in over/under, while having a 5-2 home record. 

Offensively, Illinois State is averaging 78.7 points per game, which is 104th in the nation. Defensively, they allow 72 points per game (208th). The Redbirds shoot 49.1% from the field (36th) and 40.3% from beyond the arc, which is the 8th-best in the nation. The Redbirds shoot 78.5% from the free-throw line (19th) and are grabbing 34 rebounds per game (287th).

Chase Walker leads Illinois State in scoring with an average of 14.6 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds, while Johny Kinziger adds 14.1 points and 3.7 rebounds.

Southern Illinois Salukis Preview

The Southern Illinois Salukis have a 5-9 record this season and are sitting in 12th place in the Missouri Valley. Southern Illinois is coming off a 53-68 loss by Evansville. The Salukis are 3-9 against the spread, and 5-7 in over/under while having a 1-3 road record.

Offensively, Southern Illinois is averaging 72.3 points per game, which ranks 261st in the nation. Defensively, they allow 74.6 points per game (272nd). The Salukis shoot 44.1% from the field (236th) and 31.3% from beyond the arc (293rd). The Salukis shoot 68.3% from the free-throw line (274th) and are grabbing 36.8 rebounds per game (164th).

Ali Abdou Dibba leads Southern Illinois in scoring with an average of 15.1 points and 3.7 rebounds, while Kennard Davis adds 14.2 points and 4.5 rebounds.

Why the Illinois State Redbirds will win

• Southern Illinois has lost each of its last six games against the Missouri Valley Conference.
• Illinois State has won five of its last six games.
• Southern Illinois has lost the first half in each of its last seven road games against the Missouri Valley Conference.

Why the Southern Illinois Salukis will win

• Southern Illinois has won six of its last seven games against Illinois State.
• Illinois State has lost four of its last five games against the Missouri Valley Conference.

Southern Illinois Salukis vs Illinois State Redbirds Prediction

Southern Illinois is 7-3 in their last 10 meetings against Illinois State, and they are 7-3 against the spread. Over is 6-0 in their last 6 meetings, and in their most recent meeting last season, Southern Illinois won 69-66 at home, not covering the spread, as the game went over the total. In this Southern Illinois Salukis vs Illinois State Redbirds Prediction, Illinois State is coming as a -6.5 home favorites. Illinois State is better both offensively, scoring 6.4 points more than Southern Illinois, and defensively, allowing 2.6 points less. The Redbirds are winning by an average of 6.7 points this season, while the Salukis are losing by an average of 2.3 points. The Redbirds have been terrific against the spread, as they are 10-3 this season, and 6-1 in their last 7 games, while on the other hand, the Salukis are struggling, as they are 1-9 against the spread in their last 10 games. Take the Illinois State Redbirds and lay the points at home.