Illinois State vs. Evansville Dunkel Predictions & Vegas Odds - Jan. 1

The Illinois State Redbirds (11-3, 3-0 MVC) host the Evansville Purple Aces (4-10, 0-3 MVC) at CEFCU Arena, starting at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 1, 2026. The Redbirds are 13.5-point favorites in the game. The point total is 144.5 for the matchup.

In its most recent outing on Monday, Illinois State claimed a 73-56 victory over Drake. In the victory, Chase Walker paced Illinois State with 17 points. Evansville's last game on Monday ended in a 76-68 loss to Bradley. AJ Casey totaled 21 points, six rebounds and two assists for Evansville.

Illinois State vs. Evansville Odds and Game Time

• When: Thursday, January 1, 2026 at 3 p.m. ET
• Where: CEFCU Arena in Normal, Illinois
• Spread favorite: Illinois State -13.5
• Moneyline favorite: Illinois State -1205
• Moneyline underdog: Evansville +737
• Over/Under: 144.5 points

How to watch Illinois State vs. Evansville

• TV Channel: ESPN+
• Check out the rest of our Dunkel Index NCAA Basketball Picks!

Betting the Over/Under: Illinois State vs. Evansville

• Illinois State and its opponents have combined to exceed Thursday's over/under of 144.5 points seven times this season.
• This season, five games Evansville has played finished with a combined score over 144.5 points.
• Together, the two teams combine for 149.7 points per game, 5.2 points more than the point total of 144.5 for this matchup.
• The 139.6 points per game these two teams allow to opponents combined this season are 4.9 less than the 144.5-point total in this contest.
• This season, the average over/under for Illinois State's games is 146.9 points, 2.4 more than the total of 144.5 points set for this contest.
• The over/under for this game is 2.1 points more than the average over/under in Evansville's games this season (142.4 points).

Betting the Spread: Illinois State vs. Evansville

• Against the spread, Illinois State is 9-4-0 this season.
• This season, the Redbirds have two ATS wins in three games as a favorite of 13.5 points or more.
• Evansville is 7-5-0 against the spread this season.
• The Purple Aces have covered the spread once this year when underdogs by 13.5 points or more (in two chances).
• Illinois State is 4-1 against the spread, and 5-0 overall, at home.
• At home, as a 13.5-point favorite or more, Illinois State has two wins ATS (2-1).
• Away from home, Evansville is 0-4 overall and 3-1 against the spread.

Betting the Moneyline: Illinois State vs. Evansville

• This season, Illinois State has been listed as the moneyline favorite in nine games and won them all.
• The Redbirds have played as a favorite of -1205 or more once this season and won that game.
• The implied probability of a win from Illinois State, based on the moneyline, is 92.3%.
• Evansville has come away with one win in the nine contests it has been listed as the moneyline underdog this season.
• The Purple Aces have been listed as an underdog of +737 or more on two occasions this season and lost both games.
• Evansville has an implied victory probability of 11.9% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.