Illinois State vs. Northern Iowa Dunkel Predictions & Vegas Odds - Jan. 21

The Illinois State Redbirds (13-6, 5-3 MVC) host the Northern Iowa Panthers (12-7, 4-4 MVC) at CEFCU Arena, starting at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The Redbirds are 6.5-point favorites in the game. The matchup has a point total of 131.5.

In its last matchup on Saturday, Illinois State earned an 88-62 victory over Bradley. Boden Skunberg scored a team-leading 23 points for Illinois State in the win. Northern Iowa's most recent contest was a 54-44 loss to Valparaiso on Saturday. Ben Schwieger scored a team-best 10 points for Northern Iowa in the loss.

Illinois State vs. Northern Iowa Odds and Game Time

• When: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 9 p.m. ET
• Where: CEFCU Arena in Normal, Illinois
• Spread favorite: Illinois State -6.5
• Moneyline favorite: Illinois State -299
• Moneyline underdog: Northern Iowa +239
• Over/Under: 131.5 points

How to watch Illinois State vs. Northern Iowa

• TV Channel: ESPN U
• Live Stream: Fubo
• Check out the rest of our Dunkel Index NCAA Basketball Picks!

Betting the Over/Under: Illinois State vs. Northern Iowa

• A total of 15 of Illinois State's games this season have gone over Wednesday's total of 131.5 points.
• Seven of Northern Iowa's games have finished with a combined score higher than 131.5 points this season.
• The over/under for the matchup of 131.5 is 15.6 points fewer than the combined points per game averages for the Redbirds (79.3 points per game) and the Panthers (67.8 points per game).
• These two teams give up a combined 126.8 points per game, 4.7 less than this contest's over/under.
• On average, Illinois State has seen a 146.3-point over/under in its games this season, 14.8 more points than the over/under in this matchup.
• Northern Iowa's games have an average over/under of 127.5 points this season, 4.0 fewer points than the over/under for this contest.

Betting the Spread: Illinois State vs. Northern Iowa

• In Illinois State's 18 games this season, it has 11 wins against the spread.
• So far this season, the Redbirds have been installed as favorites by a 6.5-point margin or more 10 times and are 5-5 ATS in those contests.
• Against the spread, Northern Iowa is 7-10-0 this year.
• At home this year, Illinois State is 6-2 against the spread and 7-1 overall.
• Illinois State is 5-2 ATS as a 6.5-point favorite or greater at home.
• Northern Iowa is 3-2 against the spread, and 3-2 overall, on the road.

Betting the Moneyline: Illinois State vs. Northern Iowa

• Illinois State has won 11, or 78.6%, of the 14 games it has played as the moneyline favorite this season.
• The Redbirds are 7-2 this season when entering a game favored by -299 or more on the moneyline.
• The moneyline for this contest implies a 74.9% chance of a victory for Illinois State.
• Northern Iowa has split the two contests it has played as moneyline underdogs this season.
• Oddsmakers have given the Panthers the worst odds of winning they have seen this season with a +239 moneyline listed for this contest.
• The moneyline set for this matchup implies Northern Iowa has a 29.5% chance of coming away with a victory in the contest.