Bradley vs Northern Iowa Prediction 2/6/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Bradley Braves and the Northern Iowa Panthers will meet on Saturday in a Missouri Valley Conference matchup at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Bradley Braves Betting Preview

The Bradley Braves enter Saturday’s contest with a 16–8 win‑loss record, including a 9–4 mark in conference play and a 3–4 record on the road. The Braves have earned wins over Drake, Evansville, Southern Illinois and the Indiana State Sycamores, while losing recent games to Illinois State, Murray State and Belmont.

These two teams met earlier this season. Who won? Last month, in the Bradley Braves 75-69 victory over the Northern Iowa Panthers, Northern Iowa guard Trey Campbell amassed 18 points (8 of 16 shooting from the field), 5 rebounds and 3 assists illustrating his ability to lead the Braves backcourt.

The Bradley Braves are averaging 77.5 points on 43.6 percent shooting from the field and 35.6 percent from beyond the arc per game. Defensively, the Braves are allowing opponents 73.8 points per contest.

Sophomore guard Jaquan Johnson leads the Bradley Braves averaging 16.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.9 steals per game. Junior guard Demarion Burch adds 10.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per contest, providing Bradley with further backcourt depth. Senior forward AJ Smith averages 8.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

Northern Iowa Panthers Betting Preview

The Northern Iowa Panthers enter Saturday’s matchup with a 14-9 record, including a 6-6 record in conference play and a rather impressive 10-3 record at home. The Panthers have earned wins over Oakland, UC Irvine, South Dakota State and the Northern Illinois Huskies, while losing games to DePaul, Western Kentucky and the Colorado State Rams. Two weeks ago, in Northern Arizona’s 58-48 win over Valparaiso, Northern Iowa forward Will Hornseth tallied 16 points (7 of 12 shooting from the field), 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks showcasing his ability to perform at a high level.

The Northern Iowa Panthers average 65.7 points on 44.6 percent shooting from the field and 32.3 percent from three-point range per game. Defensively, the Panthers are allowing opponents 61.6 points per contest which ranks second in the nation.

Senior guard Trey Campbell leads the Northern Iowa Panthers backcourt averaging 13.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Junior forward Leon Bond III provides the Panthers with interior scoring and rebounding, contributing 11.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest.

Why the Bradley Braves Will Win

• Offensive edge. The Bradley Braves are averaging 77.5 points per game. Conversely, the Northern Iowa Panthers are averaging just 65.7 points per contest.

• Guard play. Sophomore guard Jaquan Johnson leads the Bradley Braves averaging 16.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.9 steals per game.

• Balanced scoring. Johnson, Smith and Burch provide consistent production across the rotation.

Why the Northern Iowa Panthers Will Win

• Home court advantage. The Northern Iowa Panthers are 10-3 at home this season.

• Defensive consistency. The Northern Iowa Panthers are allowing opponents 61.6 points per contest which ranks second in the nation.

• Efficient guard play. Senior guard Trey Campbell leads the Northern Iowa Panthers backcourt averaging 13.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

Bradley Braves vs. Northern Iowa Panthers Prediction

This matchup features Bradley’s balanced scoring and offensive depth against a Northern Iowa team that has been strong at home and has played outstanding defense all season. Bradley’s quality offense gives them a path to victory, but Northern Iowa’s home court edge, and elite defense present a difficult matchup for a Bradley Braves team that has been inconsistent on the road in 2025. For the reasons just noted, I am backing the Northern Iowa Panthers to win this game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Northern Iowa -3.5