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Northern Illinois Huskies vs Ohio Bobcats Picks and Predictions January 20th 2026
MAC play continues Tuesday night with a lopsided matchup on paper, as Ohio hosts Northern Illinois at the Convocation Center in Athens. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET. The Bobcats are heavy -12.5 favorites and -1000 on the moneyline, while the Huskies come in as +650 underdogs. The total is set at 153, suggesting moderate pace with some scoring expected from both sides.
Ohio is firmly in the upper tier of the conference, while Northern Illinois is still searching for answers — especially on the defensive end. The line is wide, but it reflects the growing gap in execution, depth, and consistency between these two rosters.
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Northern Illinois Huskies vs Ohio Bobcats Odds
Here are the current odds for Northern Illinois vs Ohio. Always stay updated with the latest college basketball odds as markets shift ahead of tipoff.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Illinois Huskies | +650 | +12.5 (-110) | O 153 (-110) |
| Ohio Bobcats | -1000 | -12.5 (-110) | U 153 (-110) |
Northern Illinois Huskies Betting Form
Northern Illinois continues to struggle on both ends of the floor. The Huskies are giving up over 78 points per game in MAC play and haven’t been able to string together stops in key moments. Their defense often breaks down in transition and they lack rim protection — allowing high-percentage looks game after game.
Offensively, they’ve shown spurts of pace and perimeter scoring, but the consistency just isn’t there. The Huskies turn the ball over at a high rate and don’t get to the free-throw line enough to make up for cold shooting stretches. They’ve failed to cover in four of their last five, and road form continues to trend downward.
Check the Northern Illinois Huskies stats and results and monitor the Northern Illinois Huskies injury report for updates before locking in any bets.
Ohio Bobcats Betting Form
Ohio is surging. The Bobcats are 5–1 ATS in their last six and have been dominant at home. Their offense runs through a deep guard rotation that shares the ball well and generates open looks from all levels. Ohio has also been shooting well from the perimeter — over 37% in their last four — which creates spacing for their slashers and bigs.
Defensively, Ohio isn’t elite but doesn’t need to be against weaker competition. They close out strong, rebound well, and create enough pressure to disrupt rhythm. Against a Northern Illinois team that struggles to score efficiently, the Bobcats should control both the tempo and the shot quality.
Dive into the Ohio Bobcats schedule and stats and follow the Ohio Bobcats injury report for game-time status updates.
Northern Illinois Huskies vs Ohio Bobcats Matchup Breakdown
This matchup tilts hard toward Ohio in almost every meaningful category. The Bobcats are deeper, more efficient, and simply more disciplined. Northern Illinois will need a near-perfect shooting night — and major help from the foul line — to even hang around.
Matchup keys:
- Ohio’s ball movement vs NIU’s poor help defense
- Bobcats’ rebounding edge and better shot selection
- NIU’s turnover issues likely to be punished in transition
- Total hinges on Huskies’ ability to score 65+
If Ohio builds a double-digit lead early, their pace tends to slow, which can affect the total. But if NIU’s defense collapses as usual, this could become a rout by halftime.
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Northern Illinois Huskies vs Ohio Bobcats Predictions and Best Bets
This is a high number, but Ohio has been excellent at home and has covered similar spreads against weaker MAC opponents. Northern Illinois just doesn’t offer enough resistance defensively to justify backing them — even at +12.5. If the Huskies fall behind early, it could snowball quickly.
The total at 153 is reasonable, but slightly risky. If Ohio dictates pace and locks in defensively, this could slide under, especially if the Huskies struggle to get to 70. That said, late-game free throws and transition points might nudge it Over if NIU competes longer than expected.
Best Bet: Ohio Bobcats -12.5 (-110)
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