Northern Illinois vs Marquette Odds, Pick
| Northern Illinois Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+24.5 -110 | 152.5 -110o / -110u | OFF |
| Marquette Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-24.5 -110 | 152.5 -110o / -110u | OFF |
Last season, the Big East was loaded at the top, as UConn captured the National Championship. Marquette took a huge step forward last season by winning the conference title, and now the Golden Eagles tip off this season against Northern Illinois.
The Huskies are coming off their third straight losing campaign after finishing 13-19 in 2022-23, including several questionable losses. The big question for NIU is if it can move into the top half of the MAC.
So, dive in below for Northern Illinois vs. Marquette odds and a pick, including a college basketball betting guide for Monday.
Northern Illinois Huskies
There was good in the MAC last season (Toledo and Kent State) and bad (Bowling Green and the three directional Michigan schools).
Then there was Northern Illinois, which was right smack in the middle at 9-9 in conference play. (It actually beat Kent State at home.)
However, the Huskies lost several non-conference games that are hard to explain. NIU dropped its season opener to Division II school Illinois-Springfield, while also losing to Albany and Idaho.
The Huskies were one of the worst free-throw shooting teams in the country, ranking 345th by converting only 64.8% of their attempts.
NIU wasn’t consistent as a double-digit underdog last season (7-6 ATS mark), but the Huskies pulled out two outright wins in this role — Kent State (86-76) and Indiana State (67-57).
NIU’s top three scorers from last season return, led by Keshawn Williams (17.9 PPG), who missed the final two months of the season with a torn ACL. Fellow guard David Coit averaged 15.5 points, while Zarique Nutter put up 12.4 points per game in spite of shooting 25% from 3-point range and 61% from the foul line.
Marquette Golden Eagles
Shaka Smart won 19 games in his first season as head coach of Marquette before the Golden Eagles were blown out in the NCAA tournament by North Carolina.
The second season for Smart in Milwaukee was one of the best in his 14-year career as head coach, as the Golden Eagles posted a 29-7 record and captured the Big East regular season championship.
Although Marquette couldn’t escape the first weekend of the Big Dance after losing to Michigan State in the Round of 32, the Golden Eagles went 17-3 in Big East play, which was a better mark than Xavier, Creighton and the eventual national champion, UConn.
The Golden Eagles weren’t a great team to back as a home favorite in non-conference play last season, posting a 2-4 ATS record. Marquette failed to cover in its home-opening win over Radford last season. They defeated Northern Illinois in Smart’s first season, 80-66, as 21-point home favorites.
The starting backcourt returns for Marquette, as point guard Tyler Kolek (12.9 PPG, 7.5 APG) and shooting guard Kam Jones (15.5 PPG) lead the way, along with key contributors Oso Ighodaro (11.4 PPG) and David Joplin (9.2 PPG).
Northern Illinois vs. Marquette
Betting Pick & Prediction
There's no question about the class difference in this game between Marquette and Northern Illinois.
The concern is the Golden Eagles have been known to take their foot off the pedal in these home non-conference games in which they're heavily favored in.
Also, NIU getting its best player back — after he missed two months in conference play last season — will be a boost for the Huskies, even if that only means hanging around here as heavy underdogs.
Pick: Northern Illinois +23.5 (Play to +22)
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