Ball State Cardinals vs Northern Illinois Huskies Prediction, 2/20/2024 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Ball State Cardinals vs Northern Illinois Huskies

Date: Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Location: NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb, IL

TV: ESPN+

The Northern Illinois Huskies (9-16) will play the Ball State Cardinals (12-13) at NIU Convocation Center on Tuesday.

The Ball State Cardinals played Miami and ended up losing by a score of 80-59 in their last game. Ball State finished the game having earned a 41.1% FG percentage (23 of 56) and converted 7 out of their 20 3-point shots. From the charity stripe, the Cardinals made 6 of 8 attempts for a percentage of 75.0%. When it comes to pulling down boards, they earned 28 with 6 of them being of the offensive sort. They also recorded 10 assists in the game in addition to forcing the opposition into 9 turnovers and earning 2 steals. With regard to the defense, Ball State allowed their opponent to shoot 51.7% from the field on 31 of 60 shooting. Miami dished out 21 dimes and had 12 steals for this contest. Moreover, Miami grabbed 31 rebounds (6 offensive, 25 defensive), but didn't notch a block. Miami finished 70.0% at the free throw line by burying 7 of their 10 attempts. They buried 11 of their 23 tries from three-point range. Concerning personal fouls, the Cardinals finished with 11 while Miami finished the game with 14 personal fouls.

Davion Bailey is one guy who played a role for the game. He ended up finishing with 18 points on 6 out of 12 shooting. He played for 36 minutes and also grabbed 4 rebounds. He ended up shooting 50.0% from the floor and earned 2 dimes.

Get all of our NCAA Basketball Picks Tonight

Ball State comes into this matchup with a record of 12-13 on the campaign. They turn it over 12.2 times per contest and as a squad are committing 15.2 personal fouls per game. As a team, Ball State is pulling down 34.7 boards per game and is sitting with 310 dimes on the year, which is 279th in D-1 in terms of passing the ball. The Cardinals are connecting on 37.6% on shots from beyond the arc (192 of 511) and 75.9% from the charity stripe. They currently have an average of 74.1 points per game (179th in D-1) while going 45.5% from the field.

When they are on defense, the Cardinals are able to force 11.6 turnovers every game while drawing 19.0 personal fouls. They are giving up 34.4% on shots from beyond the arc and they are 165th in college basketball in PPG allowed (71.2). The Cardinals defensively are allowing a field goal percentage of 45.4% (654 of 1,442) and they relinquish 32.5 rebounds per contest as a basketball team. They rank 129th in D-1 in allowing assists to the opposition with 314 conceded for the year.

The last time they took the hardwood, the Northern Illinois Huskies went home defeated by a final of 85-47 when they played Kent State. The Huskies pulled down 11 defensive boards and 3 offensive rebounds totaling 14 in this game. They also gave up possession of the ball 12 times, while getting 5 steals for this contest. Kent State earned 20 personal fouls in this contest which took the Huskies to the free throw line for a total of 13 shots. They were able to make 11 of the free throws for a percentage of 84.6%. When talking about shooting from beyond the arc, Northern Illinois converted 4 out of 16 tries (25.0%). In all, the Huskies ended up shooting 16 for 46 from the floor which had them shooting 34.8%. The Huskies allowed Kent State to convert 33 of their 59 attempts from the floor which left them with a rate of 55.9% in the game. They finished the game shooting 38.5% from distance by going 10 of 26 and ended up going 9 out of 14 at the free throw line (64.3%). In reference to rebounding, Northern Illinois permitted Kent State to snag 36 in all (10 on the offensive glass).

Ethan Butler ended up having an impact for the Huskies for the game. He recorded 17 points in his 35 mins on the court and earned 1 assist in this contest. He buried 6 of 11 in the matchup for a field goal percentage of 54.5%, and accounted for 5 rebounds.

Northern Illinois has a win-loss mark of 9-16 on the campaign. The Huskies are responsible for committing 17.5 personal fouls per game and they connect on 68.1% from the free throw line. Their rate of dishing out assists is at 10.3 times per game (346th in Division 1) and they turn it over 12.6 times per game. Northern Illinois has accounted for 1,858 points so far this year (74.3 per contest) and they pull down 35.4 rebounds per contest. As an offense, the Huskies are hitting on 44.8% from the floor, which ranks them 177th in D-1.

The Huskies defensively are ranked 336th in college hoops in PPG given up with 78.4. They have forced 11.2 turnovers on a nightly basis and allow teams to shoot 45.2% from the floor (277th in college hoops). The Northern Illinois defense gives up 36.4% from downtown (197 of 541) and their opposition knocks down 68.6% of their free throw attempts. They concede 14.2 dimes and 37.4 boards per contest, which ranks them 293rd and 306th in college basketball.

Who will win tonight's NCAA basketball game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Ball State

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here