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| Missouri State Bears | Northern Iowa Panthers |
| 12-5 | January 18, 2014, 01:00 | McLeod Center | 9-8 |
The Northern Iowa Panthers will try to cover the spread at McLeod Center on Saturday when they get a visit from the Missouri State Bears in NCAA basketball action.
This season, the Panthers are 9-8 overall and 8-7 ATS, while the Bears are 12-5 and 5-6 ATS. As for the totals, Northern Iowa boasts a 10-5 on the OU, and Missouri State is 9-2.
View Missouri State Bears vs Northern Iowa Panthers Odds and Stats.
On the Sportsbook NCAA basketball line for this matchup, Northern Iowa sat as -9.5-point favorites over at Sportsbook. Also, check out the current total, which often goes up first at online sportsbook Sportsbook.
The Panthers sit at No. 66 in the current college hoops power poll here at Odds Shark, while the Bears sit at No. 237 on the same chart.
Missouri State lost its last outing, a 70-55 result against Indiana State on January 15. They failed to cover in that game as a 10-point underdog. Jarmar Gulley scored 16 points in a futile effort to lead the Bears to a win (they lost 70-55 to Indiana State at Hulman Center on Wednesday).
Northern Iowa lost its last outing, a 68-66 result against Southern Illinois on January 14. They failed to cover in that game as a 6-point favorite. Northern Iowa got 24 points from Seth Tuttle but lost anyway, 68-66, to Southern Illinois on Tuesday at SIU Arena.
How They Match Up:
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and Northern Iowa has the nation's No. 160-rated offensive output, at 71.47 PPG. The visiting Bears defense ranks No. 155 allowing on average 70.65 PPG. The Panthers FG% has averaged 44.42% so far, more than the Bears marksmen have achieved on the year, 43.26% per game.
A few Bears at Panthers trends to consider:
Missouri State is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Missouri State's last 6 games
Missouri State is 6-19 SU in its last 25 games on the road
Missouri State is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Northern Iowa
Northern Iowa is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Northern Iowa is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Northern Iowa is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Northern Iowa is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Missouri State
Next up:
Missouri State home to Evansville, Tuesday, January 21st
Northern Iowa at Bradley, Wednesday, January 22nd
