Western Michigan vs Northern Illinois Prediction 3/1/25 College Basketball Picks

The Western Michigan Broncos and the Northern Illinois Huskies meet Saturday in college basketball action from NIU Convocation Center. Here’s a Western Michigan vs Northern Illinois prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Western Michigan vs Northern Illinois pick. We will examine: 

The Western Michigan Broncos recent form and player performance

The Northern Illinois Huskies recent form and player performance 

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Western Michigan Broncos

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Northern Illinois Huskies

Recent betting trends in games played between Western Michigan and Northern Illinois

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Western Michigan vs Northern Illinois game

Western Michigan Broncos Betting Preview

Western Michigan opened their season on a rough skid, but they’ve looked a little better since mid-January. The Broncos went an ugly 3-12 over their first 15 games, beating only Davenport, Canisius and Youngstown State in that time. A 5-2 run came next with losses to Buffalo and Central Michigan among wins over Kent State, Northern Illinois, Ball State and Eastern Michigan. Following losses to Ohio, Georgia Southern and Akron in the next trio, Western Michigan got it going with a 3-1 stretch. The lone loss was versus Central Michigan; otherwise it was wins over Miami-OH, Buffalo and Ohio. In total through 28 games so far this year that gives the Broncos a 10-18 overall record. 

In the Ohio game on Tuesday, the Broncos were up 36-33 going into the second half. Western Michigan hit a 46-40 run the rest of the way and took the win in the end 82-73. Chansey Willis was the team’s leading scorer in the victory with 34 points, four rebounds and eight assists. JaVaughn Hannah doubled up with 14 points and 10 rebounds in 30 minutes, as did Donovan Williams on 10 points, 12 rebounds and two assists in 39 minutes of action. 

Northern Illinois Huskies Betting Preview

Over on the Huskies’ side, they’ve had a pretty miserable campaign this year. NIU went just 4-8 in their first 12 outings with wins over Holy Cross College IN, Monmouth, Benedictine University IL and East-West University. Since then it’s been just one win over Ball State on January 25. Otherwise the Huskies have fallen to Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Ohio, Miami Ohio, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Akron, Toledo, Bowling Green, Louisiana, Buffalo, Ball State, Akron, Eastern Michigan and Miami Ohio in succession. That gives Northern Illinois a 5-23 overall record through 28 games so far in the 2024-25 campaign. 

Matched up against Miami OH in a road game on Tuesday, the Huskies opened up with a 46-28 deficit in the first half. Northern Illinois didn’t get any closer on a 41-30 run from there and took the blowout loss 87-58. Nasir Muhammad led the way with 17 points and four rebounds in 33 minutes. James Dent was the only other team player to finish in double-figures with 12 points, six rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes of action. 

Why the Northern Illinois Huskies will win

• Western Michigan has lost each of its last four day games at NIU Convocation Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• The home team has won 16 of the last 20 games between Western Michigan and Northern Illinois.
• Northern Illinois has won the first half in each of its last three day games at NIU Convocation Center.

Why the Western Michigan Broncos will win

• Northern Illinois has lost each of its last nine games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Western Michigan has won three of its last four games against the Mid-American Conference.

Western Michigan vs Northern Illinois Prediction 

I’ll stay with Western Michigan, but there’s not a lot to get excited about here. The Broncos played fairly well overall in their latest win over Ohio, hitting 50.8 percent from the field with a 42-32 rebounding edge. Western Michigan missed seven of their 21 free throws however (66.7 percent) and coughed up 16 turnovers for 18 Bobcats points. Still, WMU is playing well lately with three wins in their last four outings. 

The Broncos eked out a tight 72-70 win at home the last time these teams saw each other back on January 21. Western Michigan will need to watch their turnovers in the road rematch, but they should still have the advantage on Saturday. I’m probably avoiding this one, though.