Teams looking to rebound from sub-par seasons meet in a key non-conference matchup on Wednesday when the Western Illinois Leathernecks battle the Central Arkansas Bears. The Leathernecks (6-6), who finished fifth in the Summit League at 9-9 and were 16-14 overall a year ago, have moved to the Ohio Valley Conference this season. The Bears (3-9), who were 13th in the Atlantic Sun Conference at 4-14 and 9-22 overall in 2022-23, are back in action after a 10-day break. The teams have met twice before, with the Leathernecks winning both times.
The game will tip off at 1 p.m. ET at the Farris Center in Conway, Ark. Western Illinois is averaging 72.5 points per game, while Central Arkansas averages 70.4. The Bears are 1-point favorites in the latest Western Illinois vs. Central Arkansas odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 145.5. Before making any Western Illinois vs. Central Arkansas picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 7 of the 2023-24 season on a 100-63 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $2,000 for $100 players. It is also off to a sizzling 12-4 start on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Western Illinois vs. Central Arkansas and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college basketball odds and betting lines for Western Illinois vs. Central Arkansas:
- Western Illinois vs. Central Arkansas spread: Central Arkansas -1
- Western Illinois vs. Central Arkansas over/under: 145.5 points
- Western Illinois vs. Central Arkansas money line: Central Arkansas -119, Western Illinois -101
- WIU: The Leathernecks have hit the team total under in 12 of their last 15 away games (+8.65 units)
- CARK: The Bears have hit the team total under in 18 of their last 31 games (+3.05 units)
- Western Illinois vs. Central Arkansas picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Western Illinois can cover
Senior center Drew Cisse has been a beast on the boards for the Leathernecks. In 12 games, including 11 starts, he is averaging 8.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 assists per game. He has scored 10 or more points four times and grabbed 10 or more rebounds in nine games, registering one double-double. That came in a 73-66 loss at Valparaiso on Nov. 21, when Cisse scored 13 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. His best rebounding effort came in a 70-68 loss to South Dakota on Dec. 3, when he grabbed 20 boards.
A key starter for Western Illinois is senior forward Jesiah West. In 12 games, he is averaging 8.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 24.7 minutes of action. He has registered two double-doubles on the season, the last coming in an 80-58 win over Coe on Dec. 6. In that game, he scored 10 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and registered two blocks. See which team to pick here.
Why Central Arkansas can cover
Freshman forward Tucker Anderson is off to a solid start to his collegiate career. In 11 games, including nine starts, he is averaging 14.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and one steal per game. In the win over Eastern Illinois, he poured in 22 points, while grabbing five rebounds and adding five assists. He has reached double-figure scoring eight times this season, including a high of 23 at Hawaii on Dec. 3 in a 95-76 loss.
Junior guard Elias Cato is also off to a good start to the year, reaching 10 or more points in six games, including two double-doubles. In a 90-63 loss to Loyola Marymount on Nov. 29, Cato scored 15 points, while grabbing 10 rebounds. He had 14 points and 12 boards in an 82-39 win over Hendrix College on Nov. 10. For the season, he is averaging 10.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.2 assists in 28.8 minutes of action. See which team to pick here.
How to make Western Illinois vs. Central Arkansas picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that cashes in over 50% of simulations. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Western Illinois vs. Central Arkansas, and which side of the spread cashes in over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Western Illinois vs. Central Arkansas spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned more than $2,000 on its college basketball picks dating back to last season, and find out.
