Illinois St. Redbirds vs
Ohio BobcatsPredictions & Preview

Ohio Bobcats Favored Over Illinois State Redbirds in Non-Conference Showdown at CEFCU Arena

The Illinois State Redbirds and Ohio Bobcats will meet in a non-conference matchup at CEFCU Arena with both teams looking to maintain a winning record. Neither team has played a conference game thus far and are coming off recent victories. Ohio is currently favored by 2.5 points with a total set at 145.5 points. Despite initially being the favorite, Illinois State now finds themselves as the underdog with Ohio holding a -2.5 point spread.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Redbirds +122 | Bobcats -144
• Spread: Redbirds +2.5 (-110) | Bobcats -2.5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 145.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Illinois St. will win straight-up is 55%.

Illinois St. vs Ohio Stats

Illinois St. Redbirds

In their recent game, Ohio secured a narrow victory over UNC Asheville with a final score of 82-76. Five players contributed at least ten points to the team's performance, with AJ Clayton leading the way with 19 points. Aidan Hadaway led in rebounds with six, closely followed by two others with five each. Shereef Mitchell and Jackson Paveletzke tied for the most assists with five each. Hadaway is currently leading the team in scoring with an average of 14 points per game, while Clayton, Mitchell, and Paveletzke are also consistent scorers with an average of at least ten points per game. Mitchell leads in assists with an average of four per game. The team's offense has a decent assist to turnover ratio of 12.5:11 this season, shooting 47.8% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range. They are shooting poorly from the free-throw line at 68.6%. The team is strong defensively, limiting opponents to 51 points per game, although opponents are averaging 82 points against them. Ohio has a solid health record with no players listed on the injury report. Turning to Illinois St., with a power ranking of 141, they are struggling with a ranking of 191 in offense and 302 in defense, scoring an average of 78 points per game while allowing 88 points against. Ohio has a better shooting percentage in both field goals and three-pointers compared to Illinois St. Illinois St. is allowing a high percentage of field goals and three-pointers from opponents. Ohio will need to improve their free-throw shooting and defensive rebounding to compete with top-tier teams in college basketball.

Ohio Bobcats Analysis

In their recent matchup against North Dakota State, the Redbirds secured a victory with a score of 77-68, led by Johnny Kinziger with 20 points and Ty Pence with 17. Chase Walker nearly achieved a double-double with ten rebounds and eight points, while Dalton Banks contributed four assists. Kinziger leads the team in scoring with an average of 14.5 points per game, tied with Pence, followed closely by Walker with 10.5 points per game. On defense, Banks averages 2.5 steals per game and Kinziger blocks an average of one shot per contest. The team is shooting 38% from the field, 26.2% from three-point range, and 80% from the free-throw line. Moving forward, the Redbirds will face Ohio with no reported injuries. Ohio has a power ranking of 177 and averages 65.00 points per game offensively and 67.00 points allowed defensively. The Redbirds shoot 29.03% from the field, 75.00% from the free-throw line, and 19.51% from three-point range. They average 42.00 rebounds per game and have 13.00 offensive assists and 12.00 turnovers. Defensively, Ohio allows 39.39% field goals, 44.44% free throws, and 28.00% three-pointers, with 50.00 defensive rebounds and 14.00 defensive assists per game.

Ohio's Defensive Struggles Do Not Deter Anticipation of Victory Against Illinois State

Despite Ohio's struggles defensively, Illinois State's poor shooting in their recent games is a cause for concern. Teams that shoot below 40% collectively typically struggle to secure victories. In head-to-head matchups, Ohio has historically proven successful against Illinois State, winning both encounters in 2009 and 2010. While the past may not always predict future outcomes, Ohio's consistent performance in recent games demonstrates their potential for success. Illinois State's 1-4 against the spread record dating back to last year contrasts with Ohio's 8-2 overall record in their last ten games, highlighting Ohio's stability and reliability. Ultimately, based on performance trends and historical head-to-head results, I anticipate Ohio to emerge victorious in their upcoming matchup against Illinois State.

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