Eastern Illinois vs AR-Little Rock 1/14/23 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Little Rock Trojans and the Eastern Illinois Panthers meet Saturday in college basketball action from Lantz Arena. Little Rock is fresh off a matchup versus Southern Indiana. The Trojans ended up taking a seven-point defeat in that game. As for Eastern Illinois, they played SIU Edwardsville in their Thursday game. In that one the Panthers lost by 18 points. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.

Little Rock sat at 4-8 after 12 games, beating only AR Baptist, Jackson State, Philander Smith and Central AR in that time. The Trojans went 1-4 over the next quintet with losses to Arkansas State, Tennessee State, Lindenwood and SEMO. 

Matched up against Southern Indiana on Thursday, the Trojans were down 40-36 by the break. Little Rock was outscored 34-31 from there and lost 74-67. DeAntoni Gordon topped the team with 20 points and five rebounds in the defeat. 

Over on the Eastern Illinois side, they were 3-9 after 12 games with wins over only SMWC, Blackburn and IUPUI. The Panthers hit a 3-2 run after that with wins over Iowa, Lindenwood and Southern Indiana. 

In the Thursday game versus SIU Edwardsville, the Panthers went into the break down 36-31. EIU didn’t get any closer in the second half on a 44-31 deficit and lost 80-62. Kinyon Hodges was the top scorer on 19 points with five rebounds. 

PICK: I’ll probably stick with Little Rock here. I’m also probably not touching this one. Both teams are struggling right now. The Trojans are riding a four-game losing streak and haven’t touched 70 points in any of those outings. As for Eastern Illinois, they’re 0-3 over their last trio and haven’t eclipsed 62 points in any of those games. If nothing else this should be a competitive matchup, and ultimately I like Little Rock to power out the cover/win.