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Northern Iowa Panthers vs Evansville Aces Picks and Predictions – January 4th 2026
Missouri Valley Conference play continues Sunday afternoon as the Northern Iowa Panthers visit the Evansville Aces at the Ford Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 PM ET, with Northern Iowa laying 5.5 points on the road in a low-total matchup. Both teams have had inconsistent starts, but the Panthers (8–6) are seen as the more polished squad compared to the rebuilding Aces (6–9).
The total sits at just 129.5, indicating an expected grind-it-out battle — one with limited transition opportunities and heavy half-court play. Bettors will need to decide whether Evansville’s improved defense can keep them close, or if Northern Iowa’s experience and shot-making separates them late.
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Northern Iowa Panthers vs Evansville Aces Odds
Below are the current betting odds. Be sure to track updates using the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Iowa Panthers | -230 | -5.5 (-113) | O 129.5 (-110) |
| Evansville Aces | +188 | +5.5 (-108) | U 129.5 (-110) |
Northern Iowa Panthers Betting Form
Northern Iowa enters this game having won 3 of its last 4, leaning heavily on its half-court offense and defensive rebounding. The Panthers rarely push tempo — they rank near the bottom nationally in possessions per game — but they execute well, especially late in the shot clock. They shoot the three at a decent clip and defend it even better.
Their style doesn’t lend itself to blowouts, but they wear teams down. That said, they’ve been shaky on the road, and if shots aren’t falling, they can struggle to cover margins like this. They do avoid fouls and keep turnovers low, which is why they often pull away late in close games.
Check the Northern Iowa Panthers injury report before locking anything in. For team stats and matchup history, visit the Northern Iowa Panthers stats and results.
Evansville Aces Betting Form
Evansville has been scrappy. The Aces have covered four of their last six and have been especially competitive at home. They don’t have elite scorers, but they move the ball well and play with purpose. Their defense has improved — particularly against the pick-and-roll — and they’ve been keeping games close with hustle and rebounding.
Scoring remains a concern. Evansville ranks near the bottom in offensive efficiency and rarely gets to the free-throw line. If their threes aren’t falling, they go long stretches without points. Still, in a low-total game, those scoring droughts don’t always kill the cover.
Monitor any player updates via the Evansville Aces injury report, and for more insight, check the Evansville Aces schedule and stats.
Northern Iowa Panthers vs Evansville Aces Matchup Breakdown
This is a game built around control. Both teams prefer slow pace, deliberate possessions, and structured offense. Northern Iowa has more shot-makers, but Evansville has home-court and has improved defensively.
Key matchup notes:
- Tempo should be extremely slow — both teams rank bottom-50 nationally.
- UNI has the edge in late-clock execution and shooting efficiency.
- Evansville plays better at home and doesn’t give up many second chances.
- The total is tight, but this sets up as a first-to-65 wins kind of game.
Unless one team gets hot from three, this will likely come down to a handful of key possessions in the final five minutes.
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Northern Iowa Panthers vs Evansville Aces Predictions and Best Bets
Northern Iowa is the better team, but the number feels a touch high for a low-possession road game. They can absolutely win and cover, but I’d rather take a shot with Evansville +5.5 — especially at home in a grind-it-out spot where each point holds more value.
The total at 129.5 is low but fair. Neither team pushes pace, and both struggle to generate free throws. That said, it only takes one hot-shooting stretch to blow this open, so it’s a stay-away or slight Over lean if you think Evansville hits shots.
Best Bet: Evansville Aces +5.5 (-108).
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