Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Dukes and Salukis. The game is starting at 6:00 ET on CBSS, and it’s hosted by the Salukis at Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Cancun, Mexico. Get ready to place your bets! In this non-conference matchup, the Dukes are the betting favorite against the Salukis. The over/under for the game is 147 points.

JAMES MADISON DUKES VS SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SALUKIS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Southern Illinois Salukis +5.5

This game will be played at Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya at 6:00 ET on Tuesday, November 21st.

WHY BET THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SALUKIS:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 73-69 in favor of the Salukis.
  • Not only will Southern Illinois pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +5.5.
  • The over/under is currently sitting at 147 points, and we like the under with a projected 142 points.

Is a Road Win Possible for the Dukes?

The James Madison Dukes will aim to keep their perfect record intact when they face Southern Illinois, as they are currently 4-0. In their previous three road games, which includes last season, James Madison has a perfect 3-0 record. As James Madison prepares to face Southern Illinois, they hold a 3-1 ATS record. When playing away games, James Madison is 2-0 vs. the spread this season and has gone 7-3 in their last ten road games.

So far, James Madison’s games have averaged 179.5 points per game with the average over/under line being 152.8 points. In their most recent three games, the Dukes’ over/under record is 2-0-1, with their games averaging 98 points per game.

The James Madison offense is coming off a game in which they scored 76 points vs. Radford. Overall their field goal percentage was 43.5% while connecting on 6 threes. In terms of offense, the Dukes have a season-long field goal percentage of 45%, putting them 192nd in the NCAA. Regarding three-pointers, they are ranked 64th in percentage and 21st in three-pointers made.

The Dukes’ defense is presently ranked 194th nationally, allowing an average of 85.8 points per contest. In today’s game vs. Southern Illinois, the James Madison defense will be looking to do a better job avoiding putting opponents on the line. In their last game, James Madison made 16 free-throws vs. the Dukes.

Can Southern Illinois Lock in a Home Win?

Southern Illinois comes into this game with a perfect 2-0 record after defeating Chicago State 71-55. In their last five home games, including those from last season, Southern Illinois has a 2-3 record. As of now, Southern Illinois holds a 2-0 record against the spread going into today’s matchup. Taking into account the previous three games, which includes last season, Southern Illinois has a 2-0 ATS record and an average scoring margin of +20.

Looking at their over/under performance through two games, Southern Illinois has an over/under record of 1-1-0, with their games averaging 142.5 points per game on average. When analyzing the Salukis’ last five games, they have produced a combined average of 78 points per game and an over/under record of 2-2.

In contrast to their season average of 83.3 points per game, the Southern Illinois had a below average performance. They scored 71 points against Chicago State and had a field goal percentage of 44%. The top scorer for the Salukis was AJ Ferguson with 20 points, while Xavier Johnson also added 18 to the scoreboard.

Southern Illinois’ defense has been playing well, ranking 22nd nationally, with 60.0 points allowed per game. Against Chicago State in their most recent game, the Southern Illinois defense gave up a total of 55 points while allowing Chicago State to hit 44% of their shots.