Northern Illinois vs Ball State Prediction, Picks & Odds | 24 Jan 2026

College Basketball Betting Preview: Northern Illinois vs Ball State

The Northern Illinois Huskies square off against the Ball State, with tip-off scheduled for 14:00 on Saturday, January 24.

We are predicting that Ball State will cover the spread. -5.5 seems a more than generous line and you can get -118 that the favorites will win by a bigger margin against Northern Illinois.

Ready to tail our spread pick? Access the new BetMGM promo code and read our expert review of the platform as you prep your next move.

Northern Illinois Huskies suffered a defeat in their previous game. A 80-77 scoreline occurred on the road against Ohio Bobcats.

Ball State won their last game 68-67. This was a road victory against Central Michigan Chippewas.

Head-to-Head Statistics

It was Ball State who came out on top when they last played NIU. A 89-83 (OT) win was recorded. The past 10 clashes between these teams have seen eight Ball State wins.

NCAAB	Overall	PF	PA	N. Pts	Home	Away	Strk
Northern Illinois	6-12	1333	1398	-65	5-3	1-9	1L
Ball State	6-13	1300	1342	-42	5-4	1-9	2W

View Full Standings

Northern Illinois vs Ball State Prediction & Picks

Gear up for Northern Illinois vs Ball State with our betting guide, featuring an expert match prediction, scoreline advice and a hand-picked bet builder. Explore each section below for detailed insights.

Game Prediction

Our best wager is that Ball State are going to cover a generous -5.5 on the spread. You can get -118 that there’s a bigger margin of victory in this college contest.

We use the latest team news and injury updates to help shape the best possible basketball predictions. You’ll also notice we take a stats-led approach by factoring in the key college hoops numbers that truly make a difference.

Key Northern Illinois vs Ball State stats:

• The +5.5 line hasn’t been covered by NIU in 7 of their last 10 games on the road.
• The +5.5 line hasn’t been covered by NIU in 13 of their last 20 games on the road.
• The -5.5 line has been covered by Ball State in 8 of their last 10 games against NIU.

Ball State -5.5 Probability

According to the latest betting odds, our pick has a 54.1% chance of winning. Based on our in-depth research, we calculate the actual probability to be closer to 60%. The bet can be recommended for this precise reason.

It’s possible to move the line for your selection and this allows bettors to get increasingly bigger odds. If you’re looking for more juice, then this option could tick the boxes.

Smart bettors check the promos first. Browse our updated guide for the best welcome bonuses available today.

Our Game Prediction

Ball State -5.5 @ -118 Bet Now

BetMGM Promo Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Get Bonus T&C apply. Gamble responsibly 18+

Disclosure: This preview contains affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. T&Cs apply. We only recommend licensed and regulated operators. See our Editorial Policy. Pick odds and lines reflect the price available at the time of publication (22:57, 23 January 2026). Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Correct Score Prediction

Northern Illinois 69 - 77 Ball State

There are stacks of correct score lines on offer and we’re looking at Ball State to achieve a winning scoreline of 77-69 where a huge potential return is on the cards.

Northern Illinois vs Ball State Odds

The odds and lines are updated on a frequent basis. You might therefore find that they are different to the ones listed for the above betting predictions.

Ball State have the shortest price to win this college game, with the sportsbooks giving them a 72% probability due to their -263 Moneyline betting odds. Northern Illinois are trading at bigger odds than their opponents and they can be backed at +215.

The spread currently stands at 6.5 and the total points line is 142.5. The advantage of the Totals is that you only have to choose from one of two options. The Over 142.5 selection is available to back at -108.

Consider every angle when placing your college basketball wagers. The best sportsbooks have a huge selection of game lines and team props and it’s all about finding a bet which matches your prediction of the game.

Moneyline

NIU

+215

Ball State

-263

Point Spread

NIU +6.5

-118

Ball State -6.5

-102

Total Points

Under 142.5

-112

Over 142.5

-108

Should you be more interested in a specific individual who is competing, check out the gambling sites’ prop bets where you can pick out player lines that focus on performance rather than the game result.

It’s good to consider all wagering options when it comes to college basketball and micro betting can be an exciting way to get involved in the action. When everything goes in-game, consider whether the next shot will be a Two or a Three-pointer.

Latest regular season and playoff games stats.

Northern Illinois Stats

Ball State Stats

Moneyline

• 3 wins and 7 defeats in the last 10 games
• 1 win and 9 defeats in the last 10 games on the road

Moneyline

• 3 wins and 7 defeats in the last 10 games
• 5 wins and 5 defeats in the last 10 home games

Point Spread

• +5.5 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 5 of the last 10 games
• +5.5 Betting Line on the Road: Have covered the spread in 3 of the last 10 games on the road

Point Spread

• -5.5 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 1 of the last 10 games
• -5.5 Betting Line at Home: Have covered the spread in 4 of the last 10 home games

Total Points

• Game Totals: An average of 149.10 pts in the previous 10 games
• Game Totals on the Road: An average of 146.00 pts in the previous 10 games on the road
• Over 142.5: Covered in 6 of the previous 10 games
• Over 142.5 on the Road: Covered in 5 of the previous 10 games on the road
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 72.70 pts and allowed 76.40 pts in the last 10 games
• Team Totals on the Road: Have scored an average of 66.60 pts and allowed 79.40 pts in the last 10 games on the road

Total Points

• Game Totals: An average of 143.00 pts in the previous 10 games
• Game Totals at Home: An average of 141.50 pts in the previous 10 home games
• Over 142.5: Covered in 5 of the previous 10 games
• Over 142.5 at Home: Covered in 3 of the previous 10 home games
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 71.40 pts and allowed 71.60 pts in the last 10 games
• Team Totals at Home: Have scored an average of 74.60 pts and allowed 66.90 pts in the last 10 home games

NCAAB Table Select Season 2025/20262024/20252023/20242022/20232021/20222020/20212019/2020

Mid-American	Overall	PF	PA	N. Pts	Home	Away	Strk
Miami (OH)	20-0	1890	1493	397	12-0	8-0	20W
Akron	16-4	1853	1505	348	11-2	5-2	6W
Kent State	13-5	1614	1514	100	11-2	2-3	1L
Bowling Green	13-6	1653	1336	317	9-4	4-2	2W
Buffalo	13-7	1591	1491	100	7-4	6-3	5L
UMass	13-8	1674	1558	116	8-4	5-4	2W
Toledo	10-9	1572	1493	79	6-3	4-6	2L
Ohio	11-10	1628	1629	-1	9-6	2-4	1L
Eastern Michigan	8-10	1280	1312	-32	5-2	3-8	1L
Western Michigan	7-12	1442	1513	-71	6-4	1-8	3L
Northern Illinois	6-12	1333	1398	-65	5-3	1-9	1L
Ball State	6-13	1300	1342	-42	5-4	1-9	2W
Central Michigan	5-14	1365	1506	-141	4-4	1-10	2L

• Overall = Overall Wins-Losses
• PF = Total Points For
• PA = Total Points Against
• N. Pts = Point Differential
• Home = Home Record
• Away = Away Record
• Strk = Current Streak

Top Basketball Pages