The Idaho Vandals (4-2) and Northern Illinois Huskies (5-0) will be playing at Memorial Gym for this game. Action begins at 10:00 pm ET on Saturday, Nov. 28.
The Vandals lost to Samford 75-58 on Wednesday. Perrion Callandret finished with 18 points to lead the team. The Huskies, meanwhile, are coming off an 87-55 win against Indiana-Northwest on Wednesday. Aaric Armstead led the game in scoring with 22 points on 7-for-12 shooting.
Idaho is a slim two-point underdog in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 133 points. The Vandals are attempting to build on their records of 4-2 Straight Up (SU) and 3-1 Against The Spread (ATS). Idaho’s three-point defense can be considered one of the best in the nation. The Vandals allow a .277 opponent three-point field goal percentage, one of the lowest shooting rates in the nation.
In the other locker room, the season has started off great for the Huskies, who have an impressive record of 5-0 SU and 3-0 ATS. Northern Illinois is one of the better rebounding teams in Division I. The Huskies average 43.6 rebounds per game, making them the 34th-best team in the country for that category. The Huskies are the better of the two teams when it comes to assist-to-turnover ratio, ranking 39th in Division I at 1.47. The Huskies are one of the top defensive teams in the nation, essentially shutting down opponents to the tune of 60.4 points allowed per game. Teams with weak ball handling have not fared well against the Huskies, who rank 39th in the nation with 8.6 steals per game.
Idaho and Northern Illinois will be facing off in their first head-to-head contest of the season. When they last met the Huskies were winners, moving their SU record against Idaho to 1-0. With a 1-0 record, the Huskies also have the advantage ATS.
Predictions: SU Winner – NIU, ATS Winner – NIU, O/U – Over
Notes
Idaho is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games.
Idaho averages 66.0 points per game, placing the team just 305th in the nation. Northern Illinois ranks 26th in points allowed, giving up 60.4 points per game.
In its last game, Northern Illinois won by a margin of 32 points. Idaho is 2-1 in games decided by a margin of 18 points or more. Northern Illinois has a 2-0 record in blowouts.
The Northern Illinois Huskies rank 41st for their offensive rating of 116.7. The Idaho Vandals have a defensive rating of 91.1 (ranked 56th).
Idaho has an average field goal percentage of 42.2%. Northern Illinois is undefeated (2-0) when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
The Idaho Vandals attempt an average of 17.0 three pointers per game, while the Northern Illinois Huskies attempt 21.0. When they attempt 20 or more three pointers in a game, both Idaho (2-0) and Northern Illinois (3-0) are undefeated.
Northern Illinois ranks 39th in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.47. Idaho is ranked lower at 342nd with an A/TO of .61.
Idaho ranks 294th in offensive rebounds, while Northern Illinois ranks 21st in defensive rebounds.
On average, Northern Illinois forces a turnover rate of 20.9%. When Idaho turns over the ball at a similar or higher rate, the team has a solid 4-2 record.
