Illinois State vs Bucknell College Basketball Picks, Best Bets and Odds 11/20/2021

The Bucknell Bisons and the Illinois State Redbirds meet in college basketball action from Redbird Arena on Saturday.

The Bucknell Bisons will be looking to build on an 81-74 win over Rider in their last game. Andrew Funk leads the Bisons in scoring with 17.3 PPG while Xander Rice has 14.3 PPG with a team-high 4.3 APG and Andre Screen has 10.7 PPG with a team-high 8.3 RPG as well this season. As a team, Bucknell is averaging 73 PPG on 44.4% shooting from the field, 34.1% from three and 78.4% from the foul line while allowing 78.3 PPG on 40.3% from the field and 28.6% from three this season.

The Illinois State Redbirds will look to bounce back from a 77-65 loss to Murray State in their last game. Antonio Reeves leads the Redbirds in scoring with 26.7 PPG along with 3.7 RPG while Sy Chatman has 17.3 PPG with a team-high 9.7 RPG and Mark Freeman has 11 PPG with 3.7 RPG and a team-high 3 APG as well on the year. Josiah Strong’s also chipped in 9.7 PPG for the Redbirds on the year. As a team, Illinois State is averaging 77 PPG on 40% shooting from the floor, 31.6% from three point range and 76.4% from the foul line while allowing 81 PPG on 41.8% shooting from the field and 32.3% from three this season.

Bucknell is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a win while the over is 8-1 in their last 9 games overall. Illinois State is 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 home games and 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 Saturday games while the over is 13-6 in their last 19 games following an ATS loss.

I get Illinois State being favored because they’re at home, but realistically, I’m not sure why we’re almost having to lay double-digits. Sure, the Busons have had their hiccups, but it’s not like the Redbirds have been all that dominant this season. I think this is a game that Bucknell can at worst keep within single digits, so give me the Bisons and the points here.