Northern Iowa vs Southern Illinois Prediction 1/28/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Northern Iowa Panthers and the Southern Illinois Salukis will meet on Wednesday night in a Missouri Valley Conference matchup at the Banterra Center in Carbondale, Illinois.

Southern Illinois Salukis Betting Preview

The Southern Illinois Salukis enter Wednesday’s contest with an 8–12 win‑loss record, including a 2–7 mark in conference play and a 5–3 record at home. The Salukis have dropped four straight games and are coming off multiple losses in conference play. Southern Illinois has compiled wins over Belmont, Murray State, High Point and Little Rock, while losing recent games to Drake, Richmond and Bradley.

The Southern Illinois Salukis are averaging 75.1 points on 47 percent shooting from the field and 27.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc per game. Shifting our focus to the defensive side of the basketball, the Salukis are allowing opponents 74.9 points on 43.3 percent shooting from the field per contest.

Junior guard Quinton House leads the Salukis averaging 13.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Sophomore forward Rolyns Aligbe adds 9.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1 steal per contest, providing Southern Illinois interior strength.

Northern Iowa Panthers Betting Preview

The Northern Iowa Panthers enter Wednesday’s matchup with a 13-8 record, including a 5-5 record in conference play and a 3-4 mark on the road. 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. More recently, in Northern Arizona’s 58-48 victory over Valparaiso two days ago, Northern Iowa forward Will Hornseth accumulated 16 points (7 of 12 shooting from the field), 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks showcasing his ability to lead the Northern Iowa Panthers frontcourt.

The Northern Iowa Panthers average 66.2 points on 44.3 percent shooting from the field and 32.4 percent from three-point range per game. Defensively, the Panthers are allowing opponents 61.8 points per contest which ranks second in the nation.

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. Junior forward Leon Bond III provides the Panthers with interior scoring and rebounding, contributing 11.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest.

Why the Southern Illinois Salukis Will Win

• Home court advantage. Southern Illinois is 5–3 at home this season.

• Quality guard play. Junior guard Quinton House leads the Salukis averaging 13.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

• Balanced scoring. House and Aligbe provide consistent production across the rotation.

Why the Northern Iowa Panthers Will Win

• Ability to win on the road. The Northern Iowa Panthers are 3-4 on the road this season.

• Defensive consistency. Through 21 games played this season, the Northern Iowa Panthers are allowing opponents just 59.3 points per contest which ranks first 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.

Southern Illinois Salukis vs. Northern Iowa Panthers Prediction

This matchup features the Northern Iowa Panthers elite defense and efficient guard play against a Southern Illinois team that has struggled in conference play but remains strong at home. Southern Illinois’s rebounding advantage and home court environment give them a path to control the paint. Northern Iowa’s defense keeps them competitive, but Southern Illinois rebounding strength, interior scoring and ability to generate second‑chance opportunities present a difficult matchup for a Northern Iowa team that has been inconsistent on the road. For the reasons just noted, I am backing the Southern Illinois Salukis to win this game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Southern Illinois -2.5