561 Southern Illinois + 3 1/2
3-Units (7:00 P.M. CST)
One of these teams will be 0-4 in conference play after tonight's game. Southern Illinois has not played like a team that won or shared 5 MVC Titles over the last 7 years. They have lost 3 straight games to open conference play, and will face a struggling Wichita St. team to take their frustrations out on.
Southern Illinois is led by Guard Kevin Dillard and Forward Carlton Fay, both of which are averaging 12 points a game on the season. Southern Illinois has won 8 of the last 10 games straight up between these two schools, and are a solid 9-1 against the spread over that same span. Southern Illinois has been having offensive problems and are averaging just 58 points a game over their last 5 games.
Wichita St. comes in losers of 3 straight and has scored 58 or less points in 4 of their last 5 games. Seems like the team that gets to 60 points first in this match up, may get the win. Guard Clevin Hanna leads the Shockers with 11 points a game, while Forward Ramone Clemente takes top awards for rebounding with 9 a game.
This game will possibly be a deciding factor in which way these two teams seasons will go. The winner will have a chance to turn their season around, while the loser will face the daunting task of trying to dig out of an 0-4 Conference hole. The public seems to think that the Shockers will win at home over the Salukis while the Sharp money is coming in on the Salukis to win on the road. This line originally opened with Wichita St. being favored by 4 1/2 and has moved to -3 1/2 at the time of this write up. I will side with the Sharps and a Salukis team that has won straight up the last two times they have played at Wichita St.
Take the Southern Illinois Salukis +3 1/2 for 3-Units!
Thanks and Good Luck
Southcoast Sports