The Northern Iowa Panthers (9-9, 5-3 MVC) and Evansville Purple Aces (5-13, 1-6) clash in a Wednesday night Missouri Valley Conference showdown at 7 p.m. ET at the Ford Center. Below, we look at the Northern Iowa vs. Evansville odds and lines and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Northern Iowa is coming off back-to-back overtime losses. The Panthers have needed an extra session in three of their last four games. Overall, their 79.4 points per game rank fourth in the MVC. UNI defeated Evansville 83-61 Jan. 2.
The Purple Aces defeated Illinois State Sunday, snapping a six-game losing skid. Evansville has struggled mightily on offense: the Aces have shot 37.3% from the floor while averaging just 57.1 points per game over their last seven games.
Northern Iowa at Evansville odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:15 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Northern Iowa -600 (bet $600 to win $100) | Evansville +420 (bet $100 to win $420)
- Against the spread (ATS): Northern Iowa -9.5 (-120) | Evansville +9.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 132.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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Northern Iowa at Evansville odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Northern Iowa 70, Evansville 62
Money line
UNI has a clear-cut shooting and talent advantage in this one. But there isn’t any profit to be had around the edges of these prices. AVOID.
Against the spread
The home team has won four in a row ATS in this series.
Look for youthful Northern Iowa to struggle a bit in getting this one into three-score territory. A slowed-down game with the Aces looking to avenge a lackluster Jan. 2 loss to the Panthers makes for enough probability of a single-digit Evansville setback in this one.
BACK EVANSVILLE +9.5 (-105).
Over/Under
The Over has hit in eight straight UNI conference games and in nine straight overall.
The Panthers play the faster-tempo game, but the total here is ripe for a reversal of that trend. Some of UNI’s recent offensive successes have been more efficiency- than pace-based. Consider waiting out an evenly priced (-110) total of 132.5 or a higher number — and then take the Under.
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