Northern Illinois Huskies Favored to Win in Matchup Against Struggling Buffalo Bulls

Game outlook

On Tuesday, the Buffalo Bulls and the Northern Illinois Huskies, two struggling teams in the MAC standings, will face each other in a game taking place at the NIU Convocation Center in Dekalb, Illinois. With a record of 3-20 and a 1-9 conference standing, the Buffalo Bulls are coming off an unexpected overtime victory against Georgia Southern, while the Northern Illinois Huskies, with a record of 8-15 and a 2-8 conference standing, faced a defeat against South Alabama in their previous game. Both teams recently participated in the MAC-Sun Belt challenge. This matchup marks the first of two games between these teams this season. Northern Illinois opened as the favorite with a -7.5 betting line, which has now shifted to -9.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Bulls +321 | Huskies -420

Spread: Bulls +9 (-110) | Huskies -9 (-110)

Total: Over/Under 151 (-110)

Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Northern Illinois will win straight-up is 81%.

Buffalo Bulls

The Buffalo Bulls currently have a 3-20 overall record and have lost their last nine games before finally winning against Georgia Southern in their most recent game. With only three wins, they are among the teams with the fewest wins in the entire nation. Despite being last in the MAC, they have the potential to improve their standings with a few more wins. In their last game, Isaiah Adams, a forward, led the team with 24 points. Sy Chatman, a senior forward, is the leading scorer with an average of 18.0 points per game and also contributes 6.4 rebounds per game. He recently had a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds in the win over Georgia Southern. Another key scorer is Isaiah Adams, who averages 13.2 points per game. Buffalo is ranked 347th in the nation according to KenPom and ranks poorly in offensive and defensive efficiency. The team plays at a medium pace compared to other teams. In terms of injuries, none have been reported. The Bulls would need to win the MAC Tournament in order to advance to the NCAA Tournament. In terms of power rankings, Buffalo is ranked 361st and ranks 329th in offense and 348th in defense. They have a 3-20 record this season. The team has an average field goal percentage of 40.75% and a free throw percentage of 70.86%. They make an average of 26.58% of their three-point attempts. Buffalo averages 35.14 rebounds per game and has 12.23 offensive assists and 14.86 turnovers per game. Defensively, they allow opponents to make an average of 48.90% of their field goals and 71.66% of their free throws. They allow an average of 36.27% of three-pointers and average 36.50 defensive rebounds per game. The team has 16.82 defensive assists and 10.82 turnovers per game. Here are the top-5 plays against Georgia Southern, presented by @ECMCBuffalo ! #UBhornsUP #ALLinGRIT pic.twitter.com/FH4ZJ59Yc6