Earning a win and covering the posted spread will be the goals for Western Illinois when they take on the Coyotes on Saturday in college hoops betting action.

Supporters of the Leathernecks have watched them go 9-8 and 8-3 ATS on the year, while the Coyotes are at 7-11 and 5-7 ATS. In totals betting, the Coyotes are 6-5, while the Leathernecks have a 4-6 mark.



View Western Illinois vs South Dakota Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Bettors looking to side with South Dakota in this one will find them as 2-point underdogs.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Coyotes - Leathernecks odds would favor the Leathernecks if the lines were set according to our power ranks. South Dakota is rated No. 252 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Western Illinois is at No. 143. Mathematical models based on recent stats and predictive formulas point to a 71-63 win for the Leathernecks.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits South Dakota's No. 146-ranked offense, averaging 69.9 PPG, against a Leathernecks defense that ranks No. 38 at 60.6 PPG. The Coyotes field goal percentage has averaged 44.4% so far, less than the Leathernecks marksmen have achieved on the year, 45.7% per game.

Defensively, Western Illinois features the nation's No. 105-rated defense on the road, allowing 67.2 points per game. South Dakota, meanwhile, comes in at No. 43 nationally in scoring at home.

Last time out for Western Illinois, they were a 72-50 loser as they battled UMKC on the road. They failed to cover in the match as a 5-point favorite. Western Illinois was crushed on Thursday, getting blown out by UMKC and falling by a 72-50 score at Municipal Auditorium.

South Dakota won its last outing, an 88-78 result against IUPUI on January 19. They covered in that game as a 2-point underdog. The Coyotes used a 32-point performance from Charlie Westbrook to help South Dakota smack IUPUI 88-78 on Thursday at DakotaDome.

Next up:
Western Illinois at Nebraska Omaha, Tuesday, January 24
South Dakota at Oral Roberts, Thursday, January 26