UIC vs Evansville Prediction 1/22/25 College Basketball Picks

The UIC Flames and the Evansville Aces meet Wednesday in college basketball action from Ford Center. Here’s a UIC vs Evansville prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best UIC vs Evansville pick. We will examine:

The UIC Flames’ recent form and player performance

The Evansville Aces’ recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the UIC Flames

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Evansville Aces

Recent betting trends in games played between UIC and Evansville

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the UIC vs Evansville game

UIC Flames Betting Preview

The Flames stumbled through a .500 overall run through their first eight games of the season, but since then they’re on a much-improved stretch. UIC fell to Northwestern, James Madison, East Carolina, and Northern Iowa during that initial run, beating St. Francis IL, Yale, Saint Mary’s MN, and La Salle otherwise. Since then the Flames are on a nice 8-2 stretch over their last 10 outings. UIC has losses to only Belmont and Bradley in that time. Otherwise, it’s been wins over Dartmouth, Little Rock, Seattle U, Illinois State, Drake, Missouri State, Murray State, and Valparaiso for a 12-6 overall record through the first 18 games of the season so far.

In their last game versus Valparaiso, the Flames held a 38-38 tie by the end of the first half. UIC improved after the break however, posting a 43-36 run on the way to a nice win 81-74. Leading the team in scoring was Javon Jackson with 17 points and two assists in 30 minutes. Ahmad Henderson came off the bench for 15 points and four rebounds, as did Modestas Kancleris with 13 points and seven boards. Sasa Ciani doubled up on 11 points and 12 rebounds as well.

Evansville Aces Betting Preview

Over on the Evansville side, they’ve had a couple of competent stretches so far this year but overall the team has been struggling in the record column. The Aces went 3-4 over their first seven outings, losing to North Texas, Middle Tennessee, Radford, and Ohio State alongside wins over Brescia, Green Bay, and Campbell otherwise. Following a losing streak versus Murray State, Western Kentucky, Chattanooga, Texas Arlington, and Ball State, Evansville took out Missouri State, Southern Illinois, and Illinois State (with a loss to Indiana State) over the next four games. Since then it’s been losses to Drake, Northern Iowa, and Belmont in succession for a 6-13 overall record this season for the Aces.

Matched up against Belmont on Saturday, the Aces held a two-point deficit by halftime. Evansville didn’t end up getting any closer than that on a 46-45 second half though, and fell 85-82 in the end. Leading the team in scoring was Cam Haffner with 25 points in 33 minutes of work. Tayshawn Comer added 16 points with seven boards and six assists, while Connor Turnbull came off the bench for 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.

Why the Evansville Purple Aces will win

• UIC has lost the first half in four of its last five night games.

Why the UIC Flames will win

• UIC has won five of its last six road games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Evansville has lost 27 of its last 33 night games against Conference opponents.

UIC vs Evansville Prediction

I’m staying with UIC. The Flames dispatched a middling Valparaiso team in their last outing, hitting 44.1 percent from the field with a 44-32 rebounding advantage. The foul shooting (23-of-32 for 71.9 percent) could have been better, though. That said, UIC is looking pretty good these days. Both of their losses during this current 8-2 stretch came by five points or fewer, and they’ve posted a combined 178 points over the past two games (spurred by a double-overtime game, granted).

As for Evansville, they stood tall against a pretty good Belmont team in their last outing, all things considered. The 82 points were a welcome sight following just 96 combined points in the previous two games. The Aces normally aren’t a high-scoring team this year though, so I don’t see them setting a good pace in this one.