The Nebraska Omaha Mavericks will hit the floor running against the visiting Western Illinois Leathernecks Saturday, looking to improve their record and boost wagering bankrolls in the process.

The Leathernecks will try to spoil to the party on Saturday; they are 8-3-1 ATS against the number this season, while the Mavericks are 7-7 ATS. Western Illinois is 5-4 on the totals; Nebraska Omaha is 6-4.



View Western Illinois vs Nebraska Omaha Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Bettors looking to go with the Mavericks in this one found them listed as 12.5-point underdogs earlier on the NCAA basketball betting menu for Monday's contest. Check for updates as money coming in on the Leathernecks was expected to move the line.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
This game matches up the No. 339 (Mavericks) and the No. 275 (Leathernecks) teams in the league, according to our current NCAAB power rank. A 76-51 result in favor of the Leathernecks has been projected by the scores prediction engine.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Nebraska Omaha's No. 171 nationally ranked offense (68.3 points per game) against a Leathernecks defense that sits as the No. 2 at 50.9 PPG. The Mavericks have been averaging 45.5% from the field, less than the Leathernecks have managed so far this season (47.1% on average).

Defensively, Western Illinois features the nation's No. 4-rated defense on the road, allowing 53.7 points per game. Nebraska Omaha, meanwhile, comes in at No. 48 nationally in scoring at home.

Last time out for Western Illinois, they were a 95-48 Sportsbook as they battled Greenville Il at home. The Leathernecks blew out Greenville Il on Wednesday, running up a 20+ point victory in a 95-48 win at Western Hall.

Last time out for Nebraska Omaha, they were a 90-79 Sportsbook as they battled IUPUI at home. They covered in the match as a 4.5-point underdog. Nebraska Omaha earned a 90-79 victory over IUPUI on Thursday, getting 20 points from John Karhoff at Ralston Sports and Event Center.

Next up:
Western Illinois home to South Dakota State, Thursday, January 17
Nebraska Omaha at CS Bakersfield, Saturday, January 19