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  1. Home
  2. NCAAB Picks
  3. Illinois St. Redbirds vs Drake Bulldogs
Wed 9:00 PM ET
Illinois St. Redbirds logo
Illinois St.
Redbirds62
23-13
versus
Drake Bulldogs logo
Drake
Bulldogs66
14-20
Final
Team12T
Illinois St. Redbirds303262
Drake Bulldogs343266
NCAAB · Illinois St. Redbirds at Drake Bulldogs

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Illinois St. Redbirds vs Drake Bulldogs Betting Picks & Predictions

Game time: January 15, 2025 at 9:00 PM ET

Venue: Knapp Center — Des Moines, IA

Article updated Jan 15, 2:45 AM EST

Published by SportsJaw Editorial Team

The upcoming basketball game between Illinois State and Drake in the Hawkeye State presents an exciting matchup. Illinois State recently suffered a close 85-84 loss to

Game outlook

The upcoming basketball game between Illinois State and Drake in the Hawkeye State presents an exciting matchup. Illinois State recently suffered a close 85-84 loss to Northern Iowa, while Drake secured a convincing 63-40 victory over Evansville. The Bulldogs hold a 61-40 advantage in the all-time series and have won their past eight meetings, including a 77-56 win in their most recent matchup. Drake has opened as the betting favorite at -9.5 and the line has remained unchanged. It promises to be a competitive game on Wednesday night.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Redbirds +393 | Bulldogs -526

Spread: Redbirds +9.5 (-110) | Bulldogs -9.5 (-110)

Total: Over/Under 125 (-110)

Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Drake will win straight-up is 84%.

Illinois St. Redbirds

Illinois State suffered a tough loss to Northern Iowa, their second straight defeat, despite strong performances from Chase Walker and other key players. The Redbirds are currently 10th in the MVC with a 2-4 conference record. They have shown strength in scoring offense, ranking 111th in the nation, and have solid shooting percentages both from the field and the three-point range. Defensively, Illinois State has room for improvement, ranking 199th in scoring defense. Overall, the team has a power ranking of 143 and ranks 129 in offense and 164 in defense. They have a winning record of 10-7 this season and have performed well against the spread at 11-5. With a roster of skilled players contributing to their success, Illinois State is a team to watch in NCAA basketball.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Picks are opinions, not guarantees. Past results do not predict future outcomes.

Drake Bulldogs Analysis

Drake Bulldogs secured their second consecutive victory after a brief slump, defeating Evansville in their recent match and improving their overall record to 14-2. They are currently tied for second in MVC with a 4-2 conference play record. The Bulldogs dominated the game, going on a game-changing run to secure a 38-20 lead. Bennett Stirtz led the team with impressive stats in the win. The team averages 71.3 points per game this season and excels on the defensive end, ranking 2nd in scoring defense. Other key players contributing to the team's success include Daniel Abreu and Mitch Mascari. In terms of statistics, Drake is ranked highly in field goal percentage, rebounds, assists, and scoring defense. Their upcoming matchup against Illinois St. presents an interesting challenge based on previous matchups. The Bulldogs have shown strength in both offense and defense throughout the season, despite struggles at the free-throw line. For more insights and betting picks on NCAAB games, consider consulting our top NCAAB Betting Picks to enhance your chances of success.

Illinois State Prepares to Face Tough Challenge Against Drake After Close Loss to Northern Iowa

Illinois State faced a challenging match against Northern Iowa, ultimately losing in a close game at home. The team must now prepare to face the formidable Drake squad on the road. Under the leadership of Ben McCollum, the Bulldogs have maintained a strong defensive presence and have excelled on their home court with an 14-20 record. Illinois State has a 3-2 record on the road, but suffered a significant 18-point loss to Evansville, a team that struggled against Drake's defense. With Drake coming off of two consecutive wins, it is likely they will continue their success at home against Illinois State. Consider favoring the Bulldogs in this matchup to secure their third consecutive victory and maintain their advantage over the Redbirds.

SportsJawGame Predictions
Predicted score

Unavailable for this preview

Projected winnerUnavailableConfidencelow
Pick on the Spread

Published pick: Unavailable

Pick on the Total

Published pick: Unavailable

#IllinoisStRedbirds#DrakeBulldogs

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Written by

SportsJaw Editorial Team

SportsJaw published this archived preview from its original game-day article. Its prediction and quoted lines are preserved as written.

About our editorial process

SportsJaw Redbirds vs Bulldogs archived game preview contains historical odds and availability that may no longer be current. View history of past Redbirds vs Bulldogs matchups or learn how our predictions work.

Current matchup data

Lines, trends and availability

Line movement since open

  • Moneyline · Illinois St. Redbirds+350 → +454Moved
  • Moneyline · Drake Bulldogs-455 → -638Moved
  • Spread · Illinois St. Redbirds+9.5 (-110) → +10.5 (-110)Moved
  • Spread · Drake Bulldogs-9.5 (-110) → -10.5 (-110)Moved
  • Total · Over124.5 (-110) → 123.5 (-110)Moved
  • Total · Under124.5 (-110) → 123.5 (-110)Moved

ATS and O/U trends

Illinois St. Redbirds
23-13 matchup record · 7-3-0 ATS · 4-5-1 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file
Drake Bulldogs
14-20 matchup record · 5-5-0 ATS · 3-7-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file

Injuries and availability

From the published research (2025-01-15T07:45:28.626Z). Availability may have changed; review the cited sources.

No verified injury or availability note was included in the published matchup research.

Recent head-to-head

  • 2024-01-17Drake Bulldogs 77 · Illinois St. Redbirds 56
Final result

Matchup pick recap

Drake Bulldogs defeated Illinois St. Redbirds 66-62

Drake Bulldogs defeated Illinois St. Redbirds 66-62 on January 15, 2025, a 4-point decision in the series. Drake Bulldogs' strongest period was the 1st half, when it outscored its opponent 34-30. Against SportsJaw's recorded Illinois St. Redbirds +10.5 (-110) spread, Illinois St. Redbirds covered, while the 128 combined points finished over the recorded total of 123.5.

SportsJaw editorial picks

  • Projected winnerNo published selectionUnavailable

Tipster picks

  • JohnnywalkerTotal · Under 124.5 (-110)Loss
  • SimonsaysSpread · Illinois St. Redbirds +9.5 (-110)Win