SIU-Edwardsville (17-8) vs UT Martin (10-15)
February 13, 2025 at 08:30 PM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: SIU-Edwardsville -6 — Over/Under: 138.5
The Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks and the SIU Edwardsville Cougars meet Thursday in college basketball action from Vadalabene Center. Here’s a TN-Martin vs SIU Edwardsville prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best TN-Martin vs SIU Edwardsville pick. We will examine:
The Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks’ recent form and player performance
The SIU Edwardsville Cougars’ recent form and player performance
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the SIU Edwardsville Cougars
Recent betting trends in games played between TN-Martin and SIU Edwardsville
A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the TN-Martin vs SIU Edwardsville game
Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks Betting Preview
The Skyhawks had a decent run going in December/January, but aside from that it’s been a rough year record-wise. TN-Martin posted a 5-9 run across their first 14 games, taking losses to North Alabama, Longwood, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Le Moyne, Tennessee, Charleston Southern, Alabama State, Morehead State, and Little Rock in that time. It’s been a 5-6 run over the last 11 games for the Skyhawks. The wins have come versus Southeast Missouri State, Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois, SIU Edwardsville, and Western Illinois. Otherwise, it’s been losses to Lindenwood, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, SEMO, Little Rock, and Lindenwood again. That gives the Skyhawks a 10-15 overall record through the first 25 games this year.
In the Western Illinois matchup on Saturday, the Skyhawks held a 38-34 advantage across the first half. TN-Martin kept it up from there on a 43-36 stretch and took the eventual win at home 81-70. Tarence Guinyard led the team with 20 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Filip Radakovic added 11 points with three assists and one rebound, while Vladimer Salaridze came off the bench for 18 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
SIU Edwardsville Cougars Betting Preview
Over on the SIU Edwardsville side, they started out the year pretty shaky. To their credit, however, the Cougars have been much better since late December. SIU Edwardsville hit a 7-6 opening run to start off the season. The wins in that time came courtesy of Westminster MO, Indiana State, Western Michigan, Canisius, St. Ambrose, Ball State, and Eureka in succession. Since then SIU Edwardsville has just two losses to TN-Martin and Lindenwood. Otherwise, it’s been a string of wins over Western Illinois, Lindenwood, Eastern Illinois, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee State, Southern Indiana, Morehead State, Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois, and Tennessee Tech. That gives the Cougars a 17-8 record through their first 25 games this year.
Matched up against Tennessee Tech on the road last Thursday, the Cougars went into the locker room sporting a dominant 39-27 edge. SIU Edwardsville kept it going in the second half on a 36-31 advantage and took the eventual win 75-58 in the end. Leading the team in scoring was Ray’Sean Taylor with 28 points, five assists, two rebounds and three steals. Brian Taylor added 19 points with three rebounds, and Ring Malith had 14 rebounds with four points.
Why the SIU Edwardsville Cougars will win
- SIU Edwardsville has won each of its last eight games at First Community Arena at Vadalabene Center.
- UT Martin has lost each of its last four road games against the Ohio Valley Conference.
- UT Martin has lost the first half in each of its last four night games at First Community Arena at Vadalabene Center.
Why the UT Martin Skyhawks will win
- UT Martin has won the first half in three of its last four games against SIU Edwardsville.
TN-Martin vs SIU Edwardsville Prediction
I’m staying with the Cougars. SIU Edwardsville dispatched a middling Tennessee Tech team in a road matchup pretty easily last week. The Cougars hit a nice 52.4 percent from the field in that one with a dominant 40-27 edge on the glass. SIU Edwardsville has been great defensively lately with fewer than 66 points surrendered in three straight games.
These teams last met up on January 18 in a road loss 85-82 for the Cougars. Both teams shot well in that one (over 53 percent) and both were competitive on the boards. SIU Edwardsville played a sloppy game though, giving up 14 turnovers for 20 Skyhawks points. The Cougars need to clean up the mistakes this time but I like them to get a little revenge here.