Central Michigan vs Northern Illinois Picks and Prediction – 1/18/2025

On Saturday, the Central Michigan Chippewas (7-9) face off against the Northern Illinois Huskies (4-12) at the NIU Convocation Center in Dekalb, Illinois. Get ready for the college basketball season with our college basketball picks.

Northern Illinois comes into this matchup on a four-game losing streak and has dropped four of their last five games. In their recent defeat by Miami (OH), ending with a score of 84-69, Quentin Jones was the standout player for the Huskies, contributing 21 points. This season, he holds the title of Northern Illinois' top scorer, boasting an impressive average of 16.1 points per game. Trailing behind him is James Dent Jr., the team's second-highest scorer, who maintains an average of 12.8 points per game throughout the season. On the defensive side, Terry Copeland Jr. is the leading rebounder for Northern Illinois, collecting an average of 6 rebounds per game. Additionally, Quentin Jones excels in playmaking, leading the team in assists with an average of 3.1 per game. Throughout their last five matchups, Northern Illinois has struggled defensively, conceding an average of 77 points to their opponents. As they aim to secure their first conference victory, the Huskies have faced setbacks, losing their first four conference games. Overall, the team averages 70.8 points per game this season.

Central Michigan enters this game on a one-game winning streak, but has dropped three of their last five games. In their commanding 82-63 victory over Eastern Michigan, Ugnius Jarusevicius delivered an impressive performance for the Chippewas by scoring 23 points. This season, Jakobi Heady holds the top spot in scoring for Central Michigan, averaging 14 points per game. Ugnius Jarusevicius follows closely as the second-highest scorer, maintaining an average of 13.3 points per game. Jakobi Heady also excels in rebounding, where he leads the team with an average of 6.6 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Anthony Pritchard is the Chippewas' playmaker, leading the team in assists with an average of four per game. Defensively, over their last five matchups, Central Michigan has allowed opponents to score an average of 63 points. As they prepare for their upcoming game against Northern Illinois in Dekalb, the team is eager to steer clear of what would be their fourth defeat in five conference contests. On the offensive side, the Chippewas have been averaging 73.4 points per game throughout the season.

Central Michigan has faced difficulties recently, losing six out of their last nine games away from home and three of their last four matchups within the conference. However, their defense has shown improvement and is on an upward trend. As they prepare for their upcoming game against Northern Illinois, they aim to maintain this defensive momentum. On the other hand, Northern Illinois has managed to secure victory in four of their seven home games. Despite this, they have struggled in conference play, unable to clinch a win in their four conference games so far. Final Score Prediction, Central Michigan Chippewas win 69-68.