Illinois State vs LSU Odds & Predictions (Nov. 21)

• Illinois State takes on LSU in the Cayman Islands Classic on Monday, November 21st
• The Illinois State Redbirds are 0-4 against the spread so far this season
• The Illinois State vs LSU odds can be seen below, plus our best bet and prediction for this game

Round 1 of the Cayman Islands Classic tips off on Monday, November 21st at 11:00 am ET, when the Illinois State Redbirds (2-2, 0-4 ATS) take on the Louisiana State Tigers (3-0, 1-2 ATS) from the John Gray Gymnasium.

This is the first of four opening round games from the Cayman Islands scheduled for Monday. The event will take place over three days. It’s the fourth time the mini-tournament has been held here, but the first time since 2019 because of the pandemic.

It’s been a great start for LSU in its first season under coach Matt McMahon as they’re a perfect 3-0 entering this tourney and coming off a 91-62 dismantling of New Orleans. Riding that momentum, LSU are 14.5-point favorites against an inconsistent Illinois State side in Monday’s college basketball odds.

Illinois State vs LSU Odds

Odds as of November 20th at DraftKings Sportsbook. Claim the DraftKings Sportsbook promo code. 

It might not be a stat the team looks at, but from a betting perspective, the Redbirds are a big fat zero ATS this season, despite being favorites in all four games. Favored by 6, they lost to Northwestern State, 70-67, last time out. It serves as no surprise that they’re double digit dogs in the college basketball odds against LSU.

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Illinois State Redbirds Betting Trends

One of the mantras that this Illinois State team has to adopt if they want to have more success is very simple, stop turning over the ball. They had the rock taken away 17 times in their last loss and their 24.5% turnover ratio on offense is 338th in the nation according to the KenPom rankings.

On defense, they don’t turn the ball over enough. With a turnover percentage of 14.4 on D, they rank 334th out of all 363 Division I schools. Put both of those statistics together and you have a recipe for disaster. As a team they are shooting just 42.4% from the field and 35% from three-point range.

One sleep until we open play at the Cayman Islands Classic! pic.twitter.com/xCuq9oXaa5

— Illinois State Men's Basketball (@Redbird_MBB) November 20, 2022

On the positive side of the ledger, Kendall Lewis has been a double-double force so far, averaging team highs with 16 points and 12 boards per game. They should be looking for the senior forward in the low post as much as possible, as he’s shooting 54.3% from the field and also averages one block and one and a half steals per game.

LSU Tigers Betting Analysis

LSU have gotten off to a great start, although nobody is going to confuse them with a team who should be deliberated over in the odds to win the NCAA tournament. After having trouble putting its first two opponents to rest, they’re coming off their most dominant performance of the young season.

Defense has been a strength of this SEC squad so far, as LSU has held the opposition to just 59 points per game. They have been absolute ballhawks on defense, with a 16.1 steal percentage, which ranks 11th overall in the nation according to KenPom.

We are excited to meet @LSUBasketball @CoachMcMahon at the #CaymanIslandsClassic! 🌴🏀Read more Coach McMahon and his impressing coaching accomplishments ➡️ https://t.co/2IrfSYQ2EP #GeauxTigers #CaymanClassic #MattMcMahon pic.twitter.com/vYpzFoTx27

— Cayman Islands Classic (@CaymanClassic) November 20, 2022

McMahon has a ton of depth that he relies on which should bode well as the season progresses. The Tigers have 10 players who log at least nine minutes of action per game. The transfer portal has been especially kind to LSU, with their top six scorers playing their first season for the Tigers.

The Murray State transfer combo of Justice Hill and K.J. Williams have been putting in work, combining to average 23.7 points, 10.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 4 steals per game.

Illinois State vs LSU Pick & Prediction

Every single one of Illinois State’s games this year has been decided by five points or less, but when they go up against LSU, they’ll be matching up with their most difficult opponent to date. As we mentioned earlier, they’re 0-4 ATS, but this is the first time they’re not the chalk this year.

2022-23 KenPom College Basketball Rankings

When looking at the mismatches that could come about in this contest, it would appear that LSU’s strong defense is surely going to exploit the Redbirds turnover deficiencies and make this one a bit lopsided.

Illinois State should be able to secure at least one victory while in the Caymans, but it won’t happen against LSU. Pick the Tigers to cover as your best bet to easily handle Illinois State in the college basketball odds.

Pick: LSU Tigers -14.5 (-110)