Many eyes in the college basketball world will be on Vadalabene Center Thursday as host SIU Edwardsville looks to handle the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in NCAA hoops action.

This season, the Cougars are 4-8 overall and 4-4 ATS ATS, while the Gamecocks are 10-5 and 4-6 ATS against the number. As for the totals, SIU Edwardsville boasts a 3-4 on the OU, and Jacksonville State is 4-1.



View Jacksonville State vs SIU Edwardsville Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
College basketball odds makers at Sportsbook opened the SIU Edwardsville Cougars as 2.5-point underdogs in this matchup. Check for the latest spread and over-under at the sportsbook.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Cougars sit at No. 274 in the current college hoops power poll here at Odds Shark, while the Gamecocks sit at No. 206 on the same chart. The computers running our scores simulations have concluded that the Gamecocks will win this game 67-60.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up SIU Edwardsville's No. 282 nationally ranked offense (62.5 points per game) against a Gamecocks defense that sits as the No. 64 at 60.6 PPG. The Cougars have been averaging 42.2% from the field, more than the Gamecocks have managed so far this season (41.9% on average).

Defensively, Jacksonville State features the nation's No. 19-rated defense on the road, allowing 59.4 points per game. SIU Edwardsville, meanwhile, comes in at No. 231 nationally in scoring at home.

Last time out for Jacksonville State, they were a 66-57 loser as they battled Tennessee State at home. They failed to cover in the match as a 6-point favorite. Jacksonville State suffered a 66-57 loss against Tennessee State on Saturday, getting 22 points from Darion Rackley in a losing effort at Pete Mathews Coliseum.

SIU Edwardsville was a 78-72 loser in their most recent outing on the road against Eastern Kentucky. They covered the 13-point spread as underdogs. SIU Edwardsville got 15 points from Jerome Jones but lost anyway, 78-72, to Eastern Kentucky on Saturday at Paul S. McBrayer Arena.


Jacksonville State Gamecocks Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
Before playing Eastern Illinois are 5-5
After playing Tennessee State are 1-9
After a loss are 7-3

SIU Edwardsville Cougars Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 1-2
Before playing Tennessee Tech are 0-4
After playing Eastern Kentucky are 1-3
After a loss are 5-5

A few Gamecocks at Cougars trends to consider:
Jacksonville State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
SIU Edwardsville is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
SIU Edwardsville is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games


Next up:
Jacksonville State at Eastern Illinois, Saturday, January 12
SIU Edwardsville home to Tennessee Tech, Saturday, January 12