South Dakota vs Western Illinois College Basketball Picks, Odds, Predictions 3/6/21

The Western Illinois Leathernecks and the South Dakota Coyotes meet Saturday in college basketball action from Sanford Pentagon. 

Coming into this Summit League Tournament matchup, Western Illinois is 7-14 so far. The Leathernecks have lost consecutive games to Oral Roberts. As for South Dakota, they’re 13-10 this year. The Coyotes are 2-1 in their last three and coming off a loss to North Dakota State. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Western Illinois didn’t have much luck in their first 14 games, going 2-12 in that time. The Leathernecks came alive with a five-game win streak over North Dakota, Omaha and Denver, but have since lost their last pair to Oral Roberts. 

In the 95-59 blowout loss to Oral Roberts last weekend, Western Illinois’ Colton Sandage put up 18 points with four rebounds and four assists. Adam Anhold was also in double-figures with 10 points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes on the floor. 

Over on the South Dakota side, they kicked off the year at just 1-6, but then hit a 10-game win streak that lasted into February. Since then the Coyotes are 2-4, falling to South Dakota State, North Dakota and North Dakota State in that time. 

In the 89-77 loss to North Dakota State back on Sunday, South Dakota’s Stanley Umude put up 39 points with four assists and two rebounds. Tasos Kamateros added 22 points with three boards, and Xavier Fuller chipped in eight rebounds. 

The Coyotes are 1-5 ATS in their last six after a straight-up loss and 1-4 ATS in their last five Saturday games. South Dakota is 1-5 ATS in their last six overall and 1-7 ATS in the last eight neutral-site games. 

Meanwhile, the Leathernecks are 4-0 ATS in their last four Saturday games and 7-1 ATS in the last eight overall. Western IL is 3-0-1 ATS in their last four neutral-site games and the over is 5-1 in their last six Saturday games. 

PICK: I’m going to stick with South Dakota. The last time these teams met back in late January, South Dakota took a pair of wins 65-60 and 84-74. South Dakota has been scoring well since then, with 76 or more points in each of their last six games. If the Coyotes can keep things manageable on the defensive side, they should have plenty of gas for a cover.