Charleston Cougars vs Southern Illinois Salukis Betting Picks & Predictions
The college basketball season begins with an exciting matchup between the Charleston Cougars and the Southern Illinois Salukis in the "Field of 68 Showcase" game. Both teams
Game outlook
The college basketball season begins with an exciting matchup between the Charleston Cougars and the Southern Illinois Salukis in the "Field of 68 Showcase" game. Both teams boast a 0-0 record going into the game. A recap of each team's previous season, key players, and predictions for the Charleston vs. Southern Illinois game are provided. Charleston opens as the favorite with a -3 point spread and tip-off is set for 12:00 ET at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, SD.
Betting Odds
Moneyline: Cougars -135 | Salukis +114
Spread: Cougars -3 (-110) | Salukis +3 (-110)
Total: Over/Under 145.5 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Charleston will win straight-up is 57%.
Charleston Cougars
The Pat Kelsey Era has come to an end at Charleston, with coach Chris Mack taking over the program. Kelsey had success with back-to-back regular season titles and conference tournament victories, but the team was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last year. Mack, who previously coached at Louisville, brings in new talent such as Derrin Boyd and Serbian players Đorđe Ćurčić and Lazar Đjoković. The team is off to a 0-0 start this season, with a power ranking of 5 and ranking 27th in offense and 234th in defense. Offensively, they shoot 44.16% from the field and 72.20% from the free throw line, while defensively they allow 44.46% shooting from the field and 70.39% from the free throw line. The team averages 39.80 rebounds and 15.31 assists per game, with a turnover average of 9.94.