Northern Iowa vs. Illinois State prediction: Why Illinois State is favored to win men's college basketball matchup [1/21/2026]

Illinois State will square off with Northern Iowa in men's college basketball action at CEFCU Arena on Wednesday, beginning at 9:00 PM ET.

Based on the latest simulation results, Dimers' advanced college basketball model projects Illinois State as the most likely winner of the Northern Iowa vs. Illinois State game.

This article offers an expanded analysis of Wednesday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and picks.

Northern Iowa vs. Illinois State prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using innovative machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the result of Wednesday's NCAA basketball matchup between Northern Iowa and Illinois State 10,000 times as part of our men's college basketball predictions coverage.

Our famous predictive model currently gives Illinois State a 77% chance of defeating Northern Iowa. Our predicted final score has Illinois State winning 70-63.

According to our model, Illinois State (-6.5) has a 51% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 132.5 points has a 52% chance of going over.

Northern Iowa vs. Illinois State odds

We have researched the best men's college basketball odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Northern Iowa vs. Illinois State picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

According to our men's college basketball best bets, the top play to make on this game is Illinois State to win.

Northern Iowa vs. Illinois State game-day updates and essential details

Wednesday's men's college basketball action between Illinois State and Northern Iowa at CEFCU Arena is scheduled to commence at 9:00 PM ET.

• Who: Northern Iowa vs. Illinois State
• Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
• Time: 9:00 PM ET/6:00PM PT
• Venue: CEFCU Arena

Conclusion

We predict Illinois State, with a 77% win probability, will likely beat Northern Iowa on Wednesday.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Northern Iowa vs. Illinois State insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are based on the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Note: Clicking links to our partners may earn us a referral fee. Learn about how we review products and services.