Oral Roberts vs Western Illinois College Basketball Picks, Odds, Predictions 2/27/21

The Western Illinois Leathernecks and the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles meet Saturday in college basketball action from Mabee Center. 

Western Illinois enters this one at 7-12 so far. The Leathernecks have won five straight, most recently over Denver. As for Oral Roberts, they’re 11-10 this year. The Eagles have lost consecutive games to South Dakota State and South Dakota. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Western Illinois opened the year with a 2-4 run, then hit an eight-game losing skid that lasted from December 23 to January 29. Since then it’s been five straight victories over North Dakota, Omaha (twice) and Denver (twice). 

In the 82-75 win over Denver on February 13, Western Illinois’ Will Carius put up 21 points with five rebounds to lead the team. Cam Burrell notched a double-double for the Leathernecks in that one, with 13 points and 13 rebounds. 

Over on the Oral Roberts side, their year began at a shaky 3-5, but the Eagles have been playing better since then. After a 6-1 stretch Oral Roberts has gone 2-4 in their last six. The last two losses have been to South Dakota State and South Dakota. 

In the 86-84 loss to South Dakota last Saturday, Oral Roberts’ leading scorer was Max Abmas with 36 points, two rebounds and one assist. Both Carlos Jurgens and Kevin Obanor added 14 points apiece, combining for three assists and 13 rebounds. 

Oral Roberts is 0-4 ATS in their last four as a favorite and 7-2 ATS in their last nine as an underdog. The Eagles are 5-2 ATS in their last seven Saturday games and the over is 48-23 in their last 71 overall. 

Meanwhile, the Leathernecks are 4-0 ATS in their last four road games and 5-0 ATS in the last five after an ATS win. Western Illinois is 6-0 ATS in their last six overall and the over is 8-3 in their last 11 overall. 

PICK: I’m going to stick with Western Illinois here. The Leathernecks have been scoring well lately, with 74 or more points in each of their last six games. Oral Roberts has hit 80 or more in each of their last four, but they’re also giving up points in droves these days. This should be a higher-scoring game, and I like Western Illinois to power out a cover.