At the Great Southern Bank Arena on Saturday afternoon, the Missouri Valley Conference game between the Illinois State Redbirds and the Missouri State Bears will play out.
The Redbirds (8-10, 2-5 in MVC) are on a six-game losing streak following a 77-56 home loss against the Drake Bulldogs on Wednesday. The Bears (10-8, 2-5), meanwhile, are coming off an 88-66 road loss on Tuesday to the Indiana State Sycamores.
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Illinois State vs Missouri State betting odds
Illinois State vs Missouri State head-to-head
The two teams are no strangers, as this will be their 27th meeting. The Redbirds hold a 14-12 record, but Illinois State picked up a 76-66 overtime road win on Jan. 11, 2023, in their last meeting.
Where to watch Illinois State vs Missouri State?
This game will not be available on linear television, but that does not mean that the game is not going to be aired. Instead, you can watch all of the action on the ESPN+ app and not miss a second of the game.
Illinois State vs Missouri State key injuries
Illinois State
No injuries to report
Missouri State
No injuries to report
Illinois State vs Missouri State: Best picks and prediction
The adjusted efficiency margin provided by KenPom shows a bit of a difference between the programs. Illinois State is 256th in college basketball with a -6.50 rating, while Missouri State is 154th with a +0.79 rating.
Neither offense has been doing too well recently, but there's still a sizable difference. The Redbirds are scoring 57.5 points in their last four games. while the Bears are scoring 64.3 points in their previous three.
Junior guard Alston Mason is leading both teams with 17.1 points while shooting 44.7% from the floor, including 37.9% from beyond the arc. Overall, take Missouri to cover the spread at home.
Pick: Missouri State Bears -6.5 (-110)
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