| MATCHUP | Illinois State Redbirds | Valparaiso Beacons |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 12-4 | 8-8 |
| Where | Athletics-Recreation Center, Valparaiso, IN | |
| When | Wednesday, January 7, 2026 | |
| Time | 08:00 PM EST | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
Valparaiso Beacons Preview
Valparaiso Beacons have a 7-8 record this season and are in 8th place in the MVC. They have a 6-3 home record and are coming off a 66-59 home win against UIC. Their previous three games were a 75-70 away loss against Southern Illinois, a 58-48 away loss against Northern Iowa and an 85-79 home loss against Murray State.
Offensively, Valparaiso averages 70.9 points per game, while allowing 69.7 points per game defensively. The Beacons shoot with 40% from the field and grab 38.1 rebounds per game, while dishing out 11.7 assists per game. They average 4.3 blocks per game and 6.0 steals per game defensively.
Owen Dease leads Valparaiso in scoring, with an average of 12.7 points per game, while shooting with 52.1% from the field and 87.2% from the free throw line. Shon Tupuola is the team’s leading rebounder with 6.7 per game, while Rakim Chaney adds a team-high 2.9 assists per game.
Illinois State Redbirds Preview
Illinois State Redbirds have a 12-3 record this season and are tied for 2nd place in the MVC. They have a 3-1 away record and are coming off a 73-47 home win against Evansville. Their previous three games were a 73-56 away win against Drake, an 85-65 home win against Indiana State and a 75-68 away win against Southern Illinois.
Offensively, Illinois State averages 79.9 points per game, while allowing 65.2 points per game defensively. The Redbirds shoot with 50% from the field and grab 37.4 rebounds per game, while dishing out 14.6 assists per game. They average 2.3 blocks per game and 6.3 steals per game defensively.
Chase Walker leads Illinois State in scoring, with an average of 13.4 points per game, while shooting with 52.4% from the field and 70.7% from the free throw line. Chase Walker is also the team’s leading rebounder with 5.4 per game, while Johnny Kinziger adds a team-high 2.7 assists per game.
Illinois State Redbirds @ Valparaiso Beacons Betting Trends: January 7, 2026
Why the Valparaiso Beacons will win
- Illinois State has lost 18 of its last 19 Wednesday road games against Conference opponents.
- Valparaiso has won 12 of its last 14 games against Illinois State.
- Valparaiso has won the first half in eight of its last nine games against Illinois State.
Why the Illinois State Redbirds will win
- Illinois State has won 11 of its last 12 games.
- Valparaiso has lost five of its last six games.
- Illinois State has won the first half in four of its last five night games.
Total Points Facts
- Fourteen of Illinois State’s last 15 night games have produced a total of 138+ points.
- Nineteen of Valparaiso’s last 20 Wednesday games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 141+ points.
Illinois State vs Valparaiso Prediction
In this Illinois State vs Valparaiso Prediction, Illinois State is coming as -6.5 road favorites. Illinois State has been the better team this season, with a superior overall record and have been almost perfect on the road. they have also been excellent against the spread lately, with a 9-1 record both straight up and against the spread in their last 10 games, while Valparaiso has been struggling with a 1-4 record in its last 5 games and 1-3 against the spread. Illinois State also has the 25th-best defense in the nation so I expect them to get the job done on the road in this game. Take Illinois State and lay the points on the road.