Chicago St Cougars

The Cougars were underdogs in 29 games in 2025-26; only five Division I teams were underdogs more often. Their best night was 84-75 at Loyola Chicago at +900, one of only two road wins in 21 tries.

Underdogs almost every night

Chicago State went 7-25 and were favored twice. In the other 29 they were underdogs, and they won five of them. The road was the hardest part: 2-19, with seven of the first eight games of the season away from home, at prices up to +4000. November went 0-8 and lost 7.0 units; January went 1-8.

The tell sits in December. On 14 December the Cougars won 84-75 at Loyola Chicago, getting 15.5, at +900. That one ticket made December, a 2-3 month, 7.0 units up.

Late January into February

The stretch that paid came later. From 31 January to 21 February the Cougars went 5-3, four of the wins as underdogs: 78-74 over Mercyhurst at +120, 63-57 at New Haven at +200, 68-55 over Stonehill at +110 and 70-51 over Central Connecticut at +150. Those eight games made 3.42 units. The season moneyline still lost 7.58 over 29 priced games, and the last three games were all defeats.

Against the spread

They covered 15 of 31, close to half. At home it was 6 of 10, from a 5-6 home record that includes a win over Saint Xavier, a non-Division I side with no line; away, 9 of 21. As underdogs the Cougars covered 14 times in 29.

Northeast Conference opponents

LIU won all three meetings, the last 79-75 in the conference tournament with Chicago State covering at +10.5. Wagner and Le Moyne won both meetings and covered both. Mercyhurst and Stonehill split, Chicago State covering all four games.

The total

Sixteen unders, 14 overs. The Cougars scored 65.78 a game; only 14 teams scored fewer.

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