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Murray State heads to Cedar Falls to face Northern Iowa on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET at the McLeod Center. This Missouri Valley conference game will be broadcast on CBSS. Murray State comes in 16-4 and has been good, not perfect, away from home at 4-3. Northern Iowa is 12-8 and has been strong at home at 9-3, which is usually a real edge in this league.
The market is basically calling this a toss-up. Murray State is +0.5 on the spread and Northern Iowa is -0.5, with both moneylines sitting near pick’em. The total is 145.5, which tells you oddsmakers expect Murray State to pull the pace up at least somewhat, but they’re also respecting Northern Iowa’s tendency to play slower and grind possessions.
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Murray State Racers vs Northern Iowa Panthers Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor movement and shop for the best number on the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murray State Racers | -117 | +0.5 (-117) | O 145.5 (-112) |
| Northern Iowa Panthers | -108 | -0.5 (-109) | U 145.5 (-114) |
Murray State Racers Betting Form
Murray State just lost to Drake by 11, and the defensive side is usually what shows up in that kind of result. Still, Roman Domon and Javon Jackson scoring 19 and 20 tells you the offense is still very much intact. That matters because Murray State’s identity is scoring. They average 87.9 points per game, ranking 21st nationally, and they make 10.3 threes per game. They can score quickly, and they can score in bunches. Even if the game starts slow, they can flip it in a two-minute stretch.
From a betting perspective, the challenge is translating that offensive ceiling into a road conference win against a team that wants to squeeze the game. Murray State has been good on the road, but not dominant, and the McLeod Center is not the easiest place to walk into and dictate tempo. If you want to follow how Murray State has been trending and what their recent results look like on the road, the Murray State stats and results hub keeps it organized.
The upside for Murray State backers is simple. If the Racers get Northern Iowa into a pace they don’t like, Northern Iowa can fall behind without doing anything “wrong.” They just don’t have the scoring gear to erase a 10-point deficit quickly.
Northern Iowa Panthers Betting Form
Northern Iowa is coming off a 59-54 loss to Illinois State, and that’s basically the Northern Iowa experience when the offense stalls. They play slower, they try to win with execution, and when shots aren’t falling, it can look rough because there aren’t many easy points. Still, they’re 9-3 at home for a reason. They defend, they limit mistakes, and they make you earn everything.
The way Northern Iowa wins this game is by controlling the number of possessions and forcing Murray State into longer half-court trips. Their ability to avoid turnovers is a big part of that. If they keep the ball, make Murray State guard for a full possession, and keep the Racers from running off misses, this becomes a one or two possession game late, which is exactly where -0.5 becomes valuable.
Northern Iowa doesn’t need to outscore Murray State for 40 minutes. It needs to keep the game in the 60s or low 70s and make every Murray State run feel expensive.
Murray State Racers vs Northern Iowa Panthers Matchup Breakdown
This is a tempo war. Murray State wants more possessions and more three-point volume. Northern Iowa wants fewer possessions and cleaner looks. If Murray State is getting transition threes or early-clock drives, Northern Iowa is in trouble because it doesn’t want to trade. If Northern Iowa turns this into a half-court game, it forces Murray State to execute, and execution is where volatility sneaks in. Even great offensive teams can have five-minute stretches where the ball sticks and the threes turn into tough threes.
The total at 145.5 is the key number for me. To get Over, you probably need Murray State to pull Northern Iowa into a slightly faster game than normal, or you need Murray State to be so efficient that it covers most of the total itself. The Under path is pretty straightforward: Northern Iowa drags pace, Murray State has a few cold stretches, and the game lives in the low 70s to high 60s.
In MVC games, late-game fouling matters less if the score stays tight and both teams are comfortable using clock. But if Murray State leads late, Northern Iowa may need to foul because it doesn’t have a quick-strike offense. That’s the sneaky Over risk even if the first 34 minutes are slow. Thinking in terms of game script is usually the right approach here, and the sports betting strategy guide is a useful framework for how that late-game dynamic changes totals.
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Jan 26, 2026 21:00 EST
–
Score
–
–
Spread
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o+166.50-110
Total
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–
Moneyline
–
Texas A&M-CC Islanders
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vs
Jan 26, 2026 20:00 EST
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Spread
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o+133.50-110
Total
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-192
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vs
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Open
vs
Jan 26, 2026 19:00 EST
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Score
–
+1.50 -110
Spread
-1.50 -110
o+136.50-104
Total
u+136.50-118
+108
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-130
Murray State Racers vs Northern Iowa Panthers Predictions and Best Bets
My lean on the side is Northern Iowa -0.5. In a near pick’em, I’m inclined to side with the home team that can control tempo, especially when the opponent’s biggest edge is pace and scoring bursts. Northern Iowa’s path is clearer: slow it down, value possessions, and make Murray State play a half-court game for two straight halves. That’s hard to do consistently on the road.
On the total, I lean Under 145.5. I respect Murray State’s offense, but this number feels like it’s pricing in a level of pace that Northern Iowa will actively fight. If Northern Iowa gets the game where it wants it, 145.5 becomes a lot to ask without an outlier shooting night.
Best Bet: Under 145.5 (-114).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Missouri Valley games are often where bettors can find value because the styles are so distinct. Pace teams get priced up, grind teams get discounted, and the truth is usually somewhere in the middle. The edge comes from identifying who actually controls the game state.
ScoresAndStats helps with that kind of slate approach, with today’s college basketball picks available daily so you can compare multiple opinions and see where the market might be off. If you’re moving between matchups and want one hub for schedules, records, and team context, the NCAAB teams page keeps everything organized.
