Valparaiso vs Illinois State Picks and Prediction – 2/1/2025

The Valparaiso Beacons visit CEFCU Arena in Normal, Illinois, on Saturday for a Missouri Valley Conference clash with the Illinois State Redbirds. Valparaiso is 10-12 overall and 3-8 in MVC play. Valparaiso lost to Southern Illinois 79-75 on Tuesday night. The leading scorer for Valparaiso was All Wright, with 22 points. The Beacons have lost each of the last six. Keep updated on College Basketball with our expert college basketball picks.

Cooper Schwieger leads Valparaiso in scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. All Wright is the leader in assists, averaging 2.6 per game. Tyler Schmidt is the second leading scorer, averaging 12.0 points per game, and is one of four players who average double figures in scoring. Valparaiso scores an average of 76.8 points per game. 

Illinois State looks for a second straight win on Saturday when hosting Valparaiso. Illinois State is 13-9 overall and 5-6 in MVC play. The Redbirds defeated Belmont 81-78 on Wednesday night. Chase Walker was the leading scorer for Illinois State with 22 points. Illinois State has won three of the last four but trails first in the Missouri Valley Conference by four games.

Johnny Kinzinger leads Illinois State in scoring, averaging 15.0 points per game. Chase Walker is second in scoring and leading rebounder, averaging 14.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Dalton Banks is the leader in assists, averaging 3.7 per game. Illinois State has only two players who average double figures in scoring. The Redbirds score an average of 76.4 points per game.

The Illinois State Redbirds will win on Saturday when hosting the Valparaiso Beacons, but the play here is OVER. The OVER has cashed in each of Valparaiso's last four, eight of the Beacons’ last 10, and five of Illinois State’s last six. Valparaiso scores an average of 76.9 points per game and Illinois State scores an average of 76.2 points per game. Final Score Prediction, Illinois State Redbirds win but our best play is OVER 81-79.