TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASKETBALL SELECTION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH
#714 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (-13′) over Illinois Chicago at 8 PM EST
With plenty of confidence off Saturday’s 20-point home win and cover over Missouri State, Southern Illinois will have no trouble smashing visiting UIC. The Flames enter this contest off a rare SU and ATS victory in their own backyard over the Purple Aces and they’ll get a quick reality check on the road matched up against one of the MVC’s best.
Historically speaking, these two schools have crossed paths 10 times and SIU owns a 6-4 SU record and has won all four games at home. The Salukis have been an absolute force inside the Banterra Center in Carbondale, Illinois too notching a strong 47-14 SU and 32-22 ATS record in their last 61 games. In this run storming the court off the comforts of a home war, Southern Illinois improves to a healthy 20-6 SU and 16-8 ATS including 17-6 SU and 16-5 ATS provided it is not a heavy favorite laying -14.5 or more. Also, when coming off a home game and now facing a foe that enters off a pointspread victory, the Salukis sport a respectable 20-12 SU and 21-11 ATS mark.
UIC’s win and cover over Evansville is noted and respected. However, backing a Flames bunch that is a woeful 1-10 SU and 4-7 ATS in their last 11 games isn’t going to happen anytime soon. To make matters worse, head coach Luke Yaklich and his men haven’t exactly been at their best on the road notching a rough 11-25 SU and 15-21 ATS mark in their last 36 battles including a miserable 4-15 SU and 5-14 ATS provided they enter off a home war. Additionally, when priced as an underdog of +3 or more and entering off a straight up win, UIC holds a feeble 2-18 SU and 7-13 ATS tally including a horrible 0-9 SU and 1-8 ATS if its opponent takes the floor off a double-digit straight up win.
With a pair of important conference games at Drake and Valparaiso on deck, SIU will make darn sure it takes care of business here. Take Southern Illinois. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
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