Many eyes in the college basketball world will be on Lantz Arena Thursday as host Eastern Illinois looks to handle the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in NCAAB action.

The Panthers are 9-12 so far on the season, and 7-7 ATS vs. the number. The Colonels, meanwhile, are 12-11 and 9-7 ATS. OVER/UNDER bettors have seen Eastern Illinois go 4-10 and the Colonels go 8-7 on the totals.



View Eastern Kentucky vs Eastern Illinois Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
College basketball odds makers opened the Panthers as 1.5-point favorites in this matchupl.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
According to new college basketball power rankings here, it's the No. 295-ranked Panthers and the No. 245-rated Colonels in this matchup. Computer formulas aimed at predicting NCAAB scores point to a 68-65 win for the Colonels on Thursday.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits Eastern Illinois's No. 206-ranked offense, averaging 66.7 PPG, against a Colonels defense that ranks No. 180 at 67 PPG. The Panthers field goal percentage has averaged 43.4% so far, less than the Colonels marksmen have achieved on the year, 44.3% per game.

Defensively, Eastern Kentucky features the nation's No. 114-rated defense on the road, allowing 67.7 points per game. Eastern Illinois, meanwhile, comes in at No. 274 nationally in scoring at home.

Last time out for Eastern Kentucky, they were a 91-85 loser as they battled Tennessee State on the road. They covered in the match as a 7.5-point underdog. Mike DiNunno was dynamite, scoring 33 points and adding 2 rebounds but Tennessee State still won, 91-85, over Eastern Kentucky on Saturday at Gentry Complex.

Eastern Illinois was a 74-53 loser in their most recent outing at home against SE Missouri State. They failed to cover the 2.5-point spread as favorites. Eastern Illinois was run off the court by the Redhawks on Monday as SE Missouri State routed them 74-53 at Lantz Arena.


Eastern Kentucky Colonels Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 4-6
Before playing SIU Edwardsville are 2-0
After playing Tennessee State are 5-5
After a loss are 6-4

Eastern Illinois Panthers Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 4-6
Before playing Morehead State are 2-8
After playing SE Missouri State are 2-8
After a loss are 2-8

A few Colonels at Panthers trends to consider:
Eastern Kentucky is 5-10 SU in its last 15 games when playing on the road against Eastern Illinois
Eastern Kentucky is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Eastern Illinois's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Eastern Illinois's last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Eastern Illinois's last 8 games when playing Eastern Kentucky
Eastern Illinois is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games when playing at home against Eastern Kentucky


Next up:
Eastern Kentucky at SIU Edwardsville, Saturday, February 4
Eastern Illinois home to Morehead State, Saturday, February 4