Ohio vs Northern Illinois Prediction, Picks & Odds | 21 Feb 2026

College Basketball Betting Preview: Ohio vs Northern Illinois

The Ohio Bobcats go up against the Northern Illinois Huskies, with tip-off scheduled for 15:00 on Saturday, February 21.

Our prediction is that Northern Illinois will be able to cover the spread against Ohio, with +5.5 looking favorable for our bet. Take the -108 that is currently available.

Ohio Bobcats previous game saw them claim a 69-57 home win over Ball State.

Northern Illinois Huskies triumphed in their last game. It was on the road where Buffalo Bulls were beaten 72-70.

Head-to-Head Statistics

The scoreline was 80-77 in favor of Ohio when they last played NIU. Ohio have enjoyed six consecutive wins against NIU. They’ve landed 8 victories from the past 10 head-to-head meetings.

NCAAB	Overall	PF	PA	N. Pts	Home	Away	Strk
Ohio	15-17	2492	2515	-23	11-8	4-9	4L
Northern Illinois	9-21	2086	2334	-248	6-7	3-14	5L

View Full Standings

Ohio vs Northern Illinois Prediction & Picks

We cover the essential Ohio vs Northern Illinois betting angles, featuring our main match prediction, correct score guidance and a carefully crafted bet builder.

Game Prediction

Our pick is that Northern Illinois will cover the line and prove to be competitive. It’s currently set at +5.5 for this college contest and that makes plenty of appeal, with -108 available.

Our expert college basketball handicappers study recent form and take injuries into account when assessing each matchup. Before delivering a verdict, we combine that insight with the latest stats to strengthen our analysis.

Key Ohio vs Northern Illinois stats:

• The +5.5 line has been covered by NIU in 6 of their last 10 games.
• The +5.5 line has been covered by NIU in 11 of their last 20 games at home.
• The -5.5 line hasn’t been covered by Ohio in 17 of their last 20 games on the road.
• The -5.5 line hasn’t been covered by Ohio in 8 of their last 10 games on the road.
• The -5.5 line hasn’t been covered by Ohio in 2 consecutive games on the road.

NIU +5.5 Probability

The best betting apps make it a 51.8% chance that our pick is settled as a winner. In the opinion of our cappers, there’s actually a probability of success between 55-60%. This is why we regard this as a value wager.

If you’re searching for bigger odds and feel confident that your selection will perform well, then moving the betting line can secure an increased potential payout.

Before you bet, make sure to check out the latest offers. Our guide is packed with the best welcome bonuses from leading sportsbooks.

Our Game Prediction

Northern Illinois +5.5 @ -108 Bet Now

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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 (Feb 20, 23:04). Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Correct Score Prediction

Ohio 72 - 69 Northern Illinois

Ohio are available at massive odds to register a 72-69 victory and they might have the edge. This should be a close game and there won’t be much between the teams.

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Ohio vs Northern Illinois Odds

The odds and lines below are updated regularly and may differ from the prices shown in our picks, which are captured at the time of publication.

The latest Moneyline betting odds give Northern Illinois a 33% chance of winning this college game which means they’re overwhelming +205 favorites with the sportsbooks. If you’re looking for an alternative angle, Ohio are trading at -263.

The current spread is 5.5 and total points is 150.5. Basketball fans regularly enjoy the opportunity to bet on the Totals. Those that want to back Under 150.5 can find odds of -112 available.

Whether you’re betting pre-game or in-game, the top basketball sportsbooks serve up a wide range of team props and game lines to choose from. The options are nearly endless, and it’s great to have so much variety.

Moneyline

Ohio

-263

NIU

+205

Point Spread

Ohio -5.5

-114

NIU +5.5

-106

Total Points

Under 150.5

-112

Over 150.5

-108

The gambling sites will have player props available for each game. Check out the various betting odds and take a view on whether a player’s Total Points, Three-Pointers, Blocks or Steals will hit over or under a certain line.

Micro betting is an exciting way to wager on college basketball. There are many live lines and it’s a simple case of predicting what is going to happen. Next Field Goal, where you select if the shot will be a two or three-pointer are among the options.

Latest regular season and playoff games stats.

Ohio Stats

Northern Illinois Stats

Moneyline

• 4 wins and 6 defeats in the last 10 games
• 3 wins and 7 defeats in the last 10 games on the road

Moneyline

• 4 wins and 6 defeats in the last 10 games
• 6 wins and 4 defeats in the last 10 home games

Point Spread

• -5.5 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 3 of the last 10 games
• -5.5 Betting Line on the Road: Have covered the spread in 2 of the last 10 games on the road

Point Spread

• +5.5 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 6 of the last 10 games
• +5.5 Betting Line at Home: Have covered the spread in 6 of the last 10 home games

Total Points

• Game Totals: An average of 155.00 pts in the previous 10 games
• Game Totals on the Road: An average of 157.00 pts in the previous 10 games on the road
• Over 148.5: Covered in 7 of the previous 10 games
• Over 148.5 on the Road: Covered in 6 of the previous 10 games on the road
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 75.90 pts and allowed 79.10 pts in the last 10 games
• Team Totals on the Road: Have scored an average of 74.30 pts and allowed 82.70 pts in the last 10 games on the road

Total Points

• Game Totals: An average of 138.30 pts in the previous 10 games
• Game Totals at Home: An average of 154.10 pts in the previous 10 home games
• Over 148.5: Covered in 3 of the previous 10 games
• Over 148.5 at Home: Covered in 5 of the previous 10 home games
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 65.00 pts and allowed 73.30 pts in the last 10 games
• Team Totals at Home: Have scored an average of 80.40 pts and allowed 73.70 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)	31-1	2901	2409	492	17-1	14-0	1L
Akron	29-5	3004	2499	505	19-2	10-3	10W
Kent State	23-9	2697	2560	137	16-3	7-6	1L
Bowling Green	18-14	2602	2290	312	12-7	6-7	1L
Toledo	19-15	2754	2603	151	13-4	6-11	1L
Buffalo	17-15	2497	2437	60	8-8	9-7	2L
UMass	17-16	2648	2562	86	11-6	6-10	1L
Ohio	15-17	2492	2515	-23	11-8	4-9	4L
Ball State	12-19	2093	2154	-61	8-7	4-12	4W
Central Michigan	10-21	2275	2384	-109	8-5	2-16	2L
Western Michigan	10-21	2318	2464	-146	7-8	3-13	3L
Eastern Michigan	9-21	2105	2231	-126	6-7	3-14	4L
Northern Illinois	9-21	2086	2334	-248	6-7	3-14	5L

• 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

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