Ball State vs Illinois State 12/17/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds
Illinois State Redbirds (5-6) vs. Ball State Cardinals (6-4)
December 17, 2022 3:30 pm EDT
The Line: Ball State Cardinals -4 / Illinois State Redbirds +4; Over/Under: +139.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Ball State Cardinals and the Illinois State Redbirds meet in college basketball action from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.
The Ball State Cardinals will look to build on an 88-69 win over Evansville last time out. Payton Sparks leads the Cardinals in scoring and rebounding with 14.8 PPG and 8.2 RPG while Jaylin Sellers has 13.1 PPG with 4.3 RPG and Jarron Coleman has 12.9 PPG with 5.2 RPG and a team-high 3.4 APG to lead the Cardinals in the assist department this season. Demarius Jacobs has 11.9 PPG with 3.8 RPG and 3.2 APG to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for Ball State so far this season. As a team, Ball State is averaging 78.3 PPG on 48.7% shooting from the field, 38.8% from three and 70.3% from the foul line this season.
The Illinois State Redbirds will be out to build on a 77-71 win over SIU-Edwardsville last time out. Kendall Lewis leads the Redbirds in scoring and rebounding, with 12.8 PPG and 7.9 RPG while Darius Burford has 10.9 PPG with a team-high 2.3 APG. Seneca Knight has 11 PPG with 6.7 RPG to round out the trio of double-digit scorers for Illinois State up to this point in the year. As a team, Illinois State is averaging 67.9 PPG on 43.3% shooting from the field, 33.7% from three and 81.5% from the foul line this season.
Ball State is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall and 2-5 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games while the over is 20-8-1 in their last 29 games following a win. Illinois State is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games while the over is 7-1 in their last 8 games overall.
I get the case to be made for either side here, but I’m leaning towards Ball State. Illinois State has performed really well as of late, but Ball State’s been the more consistent team all year on both ends of the floor and I don’t really see this game being any different. The favorite’s covered in each of the last four meetings between these two teams and I think they make it five with another win and cover here.
