Tennessee State at Eastern Illinois odds, tips and betting trends

USA Today

09-02-2025

The Eastern Illinois Panthers (8-17, 4-10 OVC) will host the Tennessee State Tigers (12-13, 8-6 OVC) after losing five straight home games. The matchup begins at 8:30 PM ET on Thursday, February 13, 2025. In the article below, we take a look at the Eastern Illinois vs. Tennessee State odds and lines ahead of this contest.
No line has been set yet for the Panthers vs. Tigers game.
Eastern Illinois has gone 9-14-0 against the spread, while Tennessee State's ATS record this season is 12-10-0. The Panthers are 10-13-0 and the Tigers are 16-6-0 in terms of going over the point total. Eastern Illinois has a 4-6 record against the spread while going 3-7 overall over the past 10 contests. Tennessee State has gone 7-3 against the spread and 7-3 overall in its last 10 contests.
As college basketball matchups continue, prepare for the contest with everything you need to know ahead of Thursday's game.
Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Eastern Illinois vs. Tennessee State prediction
Tennessee State 75, Eastern Illinois 71
Against the spread
Eastern Illinois has won nine games against the spread this season, while failing to cover 14 times.
Tennessee State has won 12 games against the spread this season, while failing to cover 10 times.
The 66.8 points per game the Panthers put up are 8.5 fewer points than the Tigers give up (75.3).
When Eastern Illinois totals more than 75.3 points, it is 2-1 against the spread and 5-0 overall.
Tennessee State is 2-0 against the spread and 5-0 overall when giving up fewer than 66.8 points.
The Tigers score an average of 80.1 points per game, 9.4 more points than the 70.7 the Panthers give up.
Tennessee State is 12-5 against the spread and 12-8 overall when it scores more than 70.7 points.
Eastern Illinois has an ATS record of 9-9 and an 8-12 record overall when its opponents score fewer than 80.1 points.
Players to watch
Eastern Illinois
Kooper Jacobi leads the Panthers at 9.3 rebounds per contest, while also averaging 2 assists and 12.7 points.
Nakyel Shelton leads the Panthers at 15.9 points per contest, while also averaging 2.1 assists and 5 rebounds.
Zion Fruster puts up 12 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Defensively, he averages 1.1 steals and 0.1 blocked shots.
Tennessee State
Brandon Weston is posting a team-best 16 points per game. And he is contributing 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists, making 44.4% of his shots from the field.
Aaron Nkrumah is the Tigers' top assist man (3.3 per game), and he puts up 11.1 points and 5.4 rebounds.
Carlous Williams is posting 10.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1 assists per game, making 53.2% of his shots from the field.