The Ohio Bobcats (23-7, 14-5 MAC) meet the Northern Illinois Huskies (8-21, 5-14) Friday. Tip-off at the NIU Convocation Center in Dekalb, Ill., is slated for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Ohio vs. Northern Illinois odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Ohio is coming off a key 80-77 loss to the MAC East’s last-placed team Bowling Green Tuesday. OU has dropped three of its last four games. Two of those recent losses — at Kent State and at BGSU — were on the road. The Bobcats shot a combined 29.5% from the floor in those setbacks away from home.
The Huskies lost 74-62 at OU Jan. 25. That loss is one of 13 in the team’s last 16 games. Northern Illinois has coughed up 74.5 points per game over that stretch.
See also: Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports
Ohio at Northern Illinois odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:51 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Ohio -550 (bet $550 to win $100) | Northern Illinois +400 (bet $100 to win $400)
- Against the spread (ATS): Ohio -9.5 (-120) | Northern Illinois +9.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 137.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
Exclusive USA TODAY Network offer: Deposit $10 or more, get $200 in instant bet credits at Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Place your legal, online sports bets at Tipico. Let’s make this interesting. Bet now!
Ohio at Northern Illinois odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Ohio 75, Northern Illinois 65
Money line
PASS. A fair price in the 400s is well bottled up.
Against the spread
NIU is listing as it approaches the finish line. The Huskies simply don’t have the offense to hang in this one.
Peg the Bowling Green loss as a pre-tourney wake-up call for the Bobcats.
The lean is s slight one: consider a partial-unit play on OHIO -9.5 (-120).
Over/Under
Some turnover/transition action and a decent number of projected foul shots get this one to 140 more times than not.
BACK THE OVER 137.5 (-107).
Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / USC / Wisconsin / College Football News
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1622]