Illinois State Redbirds betting odds line spread pick predictions best bets

Illinois State at Iowa odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s Illinois State at Iowa odds and lines, with college football expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Illinois State Redbirds and Iowa Hawkeyes open their 2024 NCAA football seasons Saturday at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET (Big Ten Network). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Illinois State vs. Iowa odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.

Illinois State enters the 2024 campaign ranked No. 19 in the STATS Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) football rankings and No. 20 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. The Redbirds went 6-5 straight up (SU) last season while going 4-4 in the ultra-competitive Missouri Valley Conference.

Iowa will once again have a nasty defense, as it has 8 returning starters from a unit which allowed just 282.5 total yards per game, 170.7 passing yards per game and 14.8 points per game.

For the Hawkeyes to be successful, though, they need to be a functional offense. Ex-Western Michigan coach Tim Lester is entrusted as turning things around as the new offensive coordinator. Iowa managed 15.4 PPG in 2023, so things can’t get much worse. QB Cade McNamara is back healthy and ready to lead the offense.

These teams last met Sept. 5, 2015, with the Hawkeyes coming away with a 31-14 victory in Iowa City, covering as 10.5-point favorites as the Under (59.5) easily connected.

Iowa is No. 25 in the US LBM Coaches Poll — conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports.

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Illinois State at Iowa odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 12:19 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Illinois State +1400 (bet $100 to win $1,400) | Iowa -4000 (bet $4,000 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Illinois State +22.5 (-110) | Iowa -22.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 40.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Illinois State at Iowa picks and predictions

Prediction

Iowa 26, Illinois State 13

Moneyline

Iowa (-4000) can’t be trusted until we get a little more information. Yes, that defense is amazing, and it will win the Hawkeyes games on its own. But Illinois State (+1400) is no slouch, and we need to see that the Iowa offense is improved to deem this a potential slam-dunk victory.

Plus, you wouldn’t want to play a favorite this large anyway. Risking 40 times your potential return is amateur hour in betting circles, even as part of a giant multi-leg parlay. There is just no value, and too much risk.

AVOID.

Against the spread

Play ILLINOIS STATE +22.5 (-110) is a good FCS team, and one which will contend for a playoff spot in the subdivision. The Redbirds will rely heavily upon the legs of RB Mason King, and former Kansas State QB Jake Rubley transfers in to give I-State a bump. Rubley should have immediate chemistry out of the gates with WR Xavier Loyd, also a portal add from K-State.

Iowa -22.5 (-110) went 1-1-1 ATS as a double-digit favorite in 2023, and it managed to score 22 or fewer points in 11 of the final 13 games last season, so covering a spread of this magnitude is a bit of a tall order without vast improvement on the offensive side of the ball.

Over/Under

The UNDER 40.5 (-110) and Iowa was a recipe for a lot of bread last season. In 14 games, the Under cashed 12 times.

The Hawkeyes defense will be stout again, especially at Kinnick. Iowa allowed just 79 points in 7 home games in 2023, or 11.3 PPG.

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MVC Tournament: Illinois State vs. Northern Iowa odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Thursday’s Illinois State vs. Northern Iowa MVC Tournament odds, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Illinois State Redbirds (11-20, 6-14 MVC) and Northern Iowa Panthers (13-17, 9-11) meet Thursday at Enterprise Center in St. Louis in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Illinois State vs. Northern Iowa game odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.

Illinois State snapped a 6-game losing skid with a 72-53 win over lowly Evansville in the regular-season finale Sunday. It was also the team’s first cover in 7 games, snapping a 0-6-1 against-the-spread (ATS) skid previously.

Northern Iowa dropped its final 2 games, and 8 of the last 9 games of the regular season, while covering the spread just once in its final 7 contests. The Over cashed in the final 4 outings and was 11-3-1 in the last 15 games overall.

UNI swept the regular-season series, winning 66-60 at Redbird Arena as a 1-point underdog as the Under (134.5) cashed on New Year’s Eve. The Panthers then posted a 65-63 home win on Jan. 18, with ISU covering (+8.5) and the Under (135) connecting.

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Illinois State vs. Northern Iowa odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:28 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Illinois State +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Northern Iowa -180 (bet $180 to win $100)
Against the spread: Illinois State +3.5 (-105) | Northern Iowa -3.5 (-115)
Over/Under (O/U): 134.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Illinois State vs. Northern Iowa picks and predictions

Prediction

Northern Iowa 71, Illinois State 66

Moneyline

The moneyline is a little on the steep side as NORTHERN IOWA (-180) is right at my personal limit for a standalone play.

UNI swept the regular-season series, and the Panthers have won 9 straight meetings in this series dating back to Dec. 31, 2019.

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Against the spread

While it’s difficult to beat an opponent 3 times in a single season, NORTHERN IOWA -3.5 (-115) seems to have Illinois State’s number.

Both teams are rather dismal against the number lately, with ISU just 1-6-1 ATS in the past 8 games overall and 0-4 ATS in the past 4 at a neutral site.

UNI has managed to cover just once in the past 7 outings, but it is a solid 5-1 ATS in the past 6 neutral site contests. The latter, coupled with its dominance in the series, makes Northern Iowa the play.

Over/Under

OVER 134.5 (-110) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.

The total has gone high in 5 of the past 7 games overall for Illinois State and is 5-2 in its last 7 neutral-site outings.

UNI cashed the Over in the final 4 regular-season games and is 5-2-1 in the past 8 games following a non-cover and 5-2 in the past 7 after a straight-up loss.

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Illinois State at Drake odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Wednesday’s Illinois State at Drake odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Illinois State Redbirds (10-19, 5-13 MVC) face the Drake Bulldogs (23-6, 14-4) on Wednesday at The Knapp Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Illinois State vs. Drake odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.

The Redbirds failed to cover as 14-point road underdogs on Saturday in an 80-64 loss to Indiana State. Illinois State is amid a 5-game losing skid and has lost 8 of its last 10 games.

The Bulldogs defeated Belmont 70-56 on Sunday to cover as 7-point favorites at home. Drake is currently on a 9-game win streak.

Illinois State and Drake will be squaring off against each other for the first time this season Wednesday. The home team has won 8 of the last 10 meetings.

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Illinois State at Drake odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Illinois State +700 (bet $100 to win $700) | Drake -1400 (bet $1,400 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Illinois State +15.5 (-110) | Drake -15.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 137.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Illinois State at Drake picks and predictions

Prediction

Drake 81, Illinois State 62

Moneyline

AVOID.

Unless you feel confident that Illinois State can pull off the upset on the road, taking Drake (-1400) to win outright at the current odds is not worth the risk. This game shouldn’t be close.

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Against the spread

Despite it being such a massive spread, DRAKE -15.5 (-110) is the choice in this Missouri Valley Conference matchup. The Redbirds are 0-5-1 ATS in their last 6 games and the Bulldogs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games.

Over/Under

OVER 137.5 (-110) is the pick with both of these teams hitting the Over in 7 of the last 8 meetings. Drake has scored 82 or more points in 6 of its last 10 games and Illinois State allows 70.5 points per game (203rd in the nation).

The Redbirds are 4-0 to the Over in their last 4 road games and 6-0 to the Over in their last 6 games following a loss. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are 6-1 to the Over in their last 7 games overall.

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Illinois State at Northern Iowa odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Wednesday’s Illinois State at Northern Iowa odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Illinois State Cardinals (8-11, 3-5 MVC) and Northern Iowa Panthers (9-9, 5-3) meet Wednesday at McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Illinois State vs. Northern Iowa odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.

The Redbirds have won just 2 of their last 6 games, while also going 2-4 against the spread (ATS) during the span. The Over has hit in 4 consecutive games for Illinois State with its last Under coming in a 66-60 home loss against UNI on Dec. 31.

The Panthers suffered a 76-72 loss at Belmont last time out on Saturday, snapping a 4-game win streak. UNI is on a 3-game cover streak, and it is a healthy 6-2 ATS across the past 8 games overall.

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Illinois State at Northern Iowa odds

Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:25 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Illinois State +290 (bet $100 to win $290) | Northern Iowa -390 (bet $390 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Illinois State +8.5 (-115) | Northern Iowa -8.5 (-105)
Over/Under (O/U): 134.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

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Illinois State at Northern Iowa picks and predictions

Prediction

Northern Iowa 71, Illinois State 67

Moneyline

Northern Iowa (-390) will cost you nearly 4 times your potential return in this Missouri Valley Conference outing. The Panthers picked up the 66-60 win on the road against Illinois State in the first meeting on New Year’s Eve, but there is plenty of risk with not much reward.

PASS.

Against the spread

ILLINOIS STATE +8.5 (-115) is worth a look, although there is a little risk. The Redbirds are just 2-9 ATS in the past 11 games on the road. However, this is a big number, and Northern Iowa is just 1-4 ATS in the past 5 games against teams with a losing overall mark.

Over/Under

OVER 134.5 (-105) is the lean, as the trends point to a higher-scoring game.

The Over is 3-1-1 in the past 5 home games for UNI while going 33-11 in its past 44 games following a cover.

The Over has cashed in 4 in a row for Illinois State and is 6-2 in its last 8 games on the road.

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Illinois State at Northern Iowa odds, picks and prediction

Analyzing Saturday’s Illinois State at Northern Iowa odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Illinois State Redbirds (10-11, 3-5 MVC) visit the Northern Iowa Panthers (10-9, 6-3) for a Saturday matinee in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Tip time at the McLeod Center is slated for 2 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Illinois State vs. Northern Iowa 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.

Illinois State clocked a Wednesday home loss to Drake in its last game. The Bulldogs beat the Redbirds, 89-88, in overtime, sending ISU to its third loss in its last four games. In five of the team’s last six losses, Illinois State has allowed more than 80 points.

The Panthers shot 51.2% from the floor in a 64-59 win at Evansville Wednesday. Northern Iowa went into that game off back-to-back overtime losses, but it is now 6-2 over its last eight games. UNI is 4-1 across its last five games in Cedar Falls.

Illinois State at Northern Iowa odds, spread and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10 a.m. ET.

Money line: Illinois State +360 (bet $100 to win $360) | Northern Iowa -500 (bet $500 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Illinois State +9.5 (-115) | Northern Iowa -9.5 (-107)
Over/Under (O/U): 148.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Illinois State at Northern Iowa odds, lines, picks and predictions

Prediction

Northern Iowa 80, Illinois State 70

Money line

No value to be found here: PASS.

Against the spread

Illinois State has gone 10-11 against a substandard schedule. The Redbirds’ faster pace becomes a negative in this one: the Panthers thrive in games that yield more field-goal attempts and breakaway opportunities.

Northern Iowa is a slight lean. BACK THE PANTHERS -9.5 (-107).

Over/Under

The Over is 10-1 in the Redbirds’ last 11 games as an underdog. The Over is 5-0 in the Panthers’ last five games as a home favorite. And it’s 6-3 across the last nine games of this series.

Illinois State is a bottom quartile-type defense in general, and it plays at an above average pace. The Redbirds struggle in perimeter defense, and triples account for an above-average chunk of the UNI offense. The Panthers have shot 38.0% from 3-point-land over their last three games.

Peg this game as having a decent chance of getting close to 160: BACK THE OVER 148.5 (-110).

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