Skip to main content

Point Spread: Somewhat Surprisingly, Indiana Slight Favorite at Home vs. Northwestern

Northwestern has beaten Indiana three straight times, and they've also been the better team so far during this Big Ten season. But it's the Hoosiers who are a slight favorite when the two teams get together on Sunday in Bloomington. Here's the latest on the point spread, plus a great history against the number for both teams.
  • Author:
  • Updated:

In this story:

Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers
Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern Wildcats

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Chris Collins has a good thing going at Northwestern, and his Wildcats are having another good season. He's also beaten Indiana coach Mike Woodson three straight times, and hopes to add to that on Sunday.

Even though the Wildcats are 17-8 and 8-6 in the Big Ten, they're actually underdogs in the afternoon matchup at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. According to the SISportsbook.com gambling website, the Hoosiers are 2.5-point favorites in the 3 p.m. ET game,. The over/under is 138.5.

A vast majority of the action has been on Indiana early. The opening line was just one point, and it's gone up quickly. Part of that has to do with the fact that Northwestern has been hard to figure out this year. They've beaten then No. 1-ranked Purdue at home, and took them to overtime in West Lafayette. 

They've also lost by 30 at Illinois, and also have lost at Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota and Rutgers. They also have the worst home loss of the season, losing to Chicago State as a 24.5-point favorite.

But they can be really good, too, as Indiana knows. The Wildcats have won three in a row in the rivalry, and five of the last seven. The Hoosiers want to flip that script on Sunday.

The game starts at 3 p.m. ET and is being televised on FOX Sports 1. For all of the information on how to watch and a great preview of the game from HoosiersNow.com writer Jack Ankony, CLICK HERE

Here's what Indiana has done against the spread so far this season.

Indiana by the numbers

  • Indiana overall record: 14-10
  • Indiana overall vs. spread: 11-13
  • ------
  • Indiana home record: 10-3
  • Indiana home vs. spread: 7-6
  • ---
  • Indiana road record: 2-5
  • Indiana road vs spread: 3-4
  • ---
  • Indiana neutral court record: 2-2
  • Indiana neutral court vs. spread: 1-3
  • ------
  • Indiana record as favorite: 10-1
  • Indiana vs. spread as favorite: 5-6
  • ---
  • Indiana record as underdog: 4-9
  • Indiana vs. spread as underdog: 6-7
  • ---
  • Indiana over total: 12
  • Indiana under total: 12

For every game, we'll give you a complete rundown on what both teams have done against the spread. We'll have final scores, what they did versus the spread and what happened with the over/under totals.

Indiana results vs. spread this season

Here's what Indiana has done this season, straight up and against the spread:

  • Nov. 7 — Beat Florida Gulf Coast 69-63 at home as an 11.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (132) went under the 142.5 over/under total.
  • Nov. 12 — Beat Army 72-64 at home as a 25.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (138) went over the 134.5 total.
  • Nov. 16 — Beat Wright State 89-80 at home as a 15.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (169) went far over the 146.5 total.
  • Nov. 19 — Lost to No. 5 Connecticut 77-57 at Madison Square Garden in New York as a 12.5-point underdog (did not cover). The score (134) went under the 146.5 total.
  • Nov. 20 — Beat Louisville 74-66 at Madison Square Garden in New York as an 8.5-point favorite at tipoff (did not cover). The score (140) went under the 146.5 total.
  • Nov. 26 — Beat Harvard 89-76 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as an 7.5-point favorite at tipoff (covered). The score (165) went far over the 140.5 total.
  • Dec. 1 — Beat Maryland 65-53 at home as a 3.5-point favorite at tipoff (covered). The score (117) went far under the 136.5 total.
  • Dec. 5 — Won at Michigan 78-75 as a 6.5-point underdog at tipoff (covered). The score (153) went over the 144.5 total.
  • Dec. 9 — Lost to Auburn 104-76 in Atlanta as a 6.5-point underdog at tipoff (did not cover). The score (180) went far over the 147.5 total.
  • Dec. 16 — Lost to No. 2 Kansas 75-71 at home as a 7.5-point underdog at tipoff (covered). The score (146) went under the 147.5 total.
  • Dec. 19 — Beat Morehead State 69-68 at home as a 12.5-point favorite at tipoff (did not cover). The score (137) went under the 141.5 total.
  • Dec. 21 — Beat North Alabama 83-66 at home as a 13.5-point favorite at tipoff (covered). The score (149) went over the 147.5 total.
  • Dec. 29 — Beat Kennesaw State 100-87 at home as a 12.5-point favorite at tipoff (covered). The score (187) went over the 15.5 total.
  • Jan. 3 — Lost at Nebraska 86-70 as a 3.5-point underdog at tipoff (did not cover). The score (156) went over the 151.5 total.
  • Jan. 6 — Beat Ohio State 71-65 at home as a 1.5-point underdog at tipoff (covered). The score (136) went under the 147.5 total.
  • Jan. 9 — Lost at Rutgers 66-57 as a 2.5-point underdog at tipoff (did not cover). The score (123) went under the 140.5 total.
  • Jan. 12 — Beat Minnesota 74-62 as a 3.5-point favorite at tipoff (covered). The score (136) went under the 147.5 total.
  • Jan. 16 — Lost to No. 2 Purdue 87-66 at home as a 9.5-point underdog at tipoff (did not cover). The score (153) went over the 151.5 total.
  • Jan. 19 — Lost at No. 11 Wisconsin 91-79 as an 11.5-point underdog at tipoff (did not cover). The score (180) went over the 141.5 total.
  • Jan. 27 — Lost at Illinois 70-62 as a 14.5-point underdog at tipoff (coverede). The score (132) went under the 154.5 total.
  • Jan. 30 — Beat Iowa 74-68 as a 1.5-point underdog at tipoff (covered). The score (142) went under the 160.5 total.
  • Feb. 3 — Lost to Penn State 85-71 as a 6.5-point favorite at tipoff (did not cover). The score (156) went over the 150.5 total.
  • Feb. 6 — Won at Ohio State 76-73 as an 6.5-point underdog at tipoff (cover). The score (149) went over the 143.5 total.
  • Feb. 10 — Lost at No. 2 Purdue 79-59 as an 18.5-point underdog at tipoff (did not cover). The score (138) went under the 138.5 total.

Northwestern results vs. spread this season

Northwestern is 17-8 overall and 8-6 in the Big Ten, which is good for fifth place as of Sunday morning 

The Wildcats opened the season ranked No. 40 in the Kenpom.com computer rankings. Now they're at No. 47 as of Sunday morning. Indiana, by the way, is at No. 97.

Northwestern is 13-12 against the spread this season. In league games, they are 8-6 against the spread. Sixteen of its 25 games have gone over the total. Their last two went under, but the previous 11 games all went over. That's a trend right there.

Here's what Northwestern has done this season, straight up and against the spread:

  • Nov. 6 — Beat Binghamton 72-61 at home as a 17.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (133) went under the 137.5 over/under total.
  • Nov. 10— Beat Dayton 71-66 at home as an 5.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (137) went over the 129.5 over/under total.
  • Nov. 14 — Beat Western Michigan 63-59 at home as a 23.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (122) went under the 134.5 over/under total.
  • Nov. 18— Beat Rhode Island 72-61 at the Basketball Tipoff Classic in Uncasville, Conn., as an 8.5-point favorite (covered). The score (133) went under the 134.5 over/under total.
  • Nov. 19— Lost to Mississippi State 66-57  at the Basketball Tipoff Classic in Uncasville, Conn., as an 3.5-point underdog (did not cover).  The score (123) went under the 128.5 over/under total.
  • Nov. 27 — Beat Northern Illinois 89-67 at home as a 13.5-point favorite (covered). The score (156) went over the 143.5 over/under total.
  • Dec. 1— Beat No. 1 Purdue 92-88 in overtime at home as a 5.5-point underdog (covered). The score (180) went over the 134.5 over/under total.
  • Dec. 10 — Beat Detroit Mercy 91-59 at home as a 23.5-point favorite (covered). The score (150) went over the 133.5 over/under total.
  • Dec. 13— Lost to Chicago State 75-73 at home as a 24.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (148) went over the 134.5 over/under total.
  • Dec. 16 — Won at DePaul 56-46 as a 9.5-point favorite (covered). The score (102) went under the 139.5 over/under total.
  • Dec. 20— Beat Arizona State 65-46 at the Hall of Fame Series in Phoenix, Ariz., as a 3.5-point favorite (covered). The score (111) went under the 137.5 over/under total.
  • Dec. 29 — Beat Jackson State 74-63 at home as a 17.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (137) went under the 139.5 over/under total.
  • Jan. 2 — Lost at No. 9 Illinois 96-66 as a 5.5-point underdog (did not cover). The score (162) went over the 141.5 over/under total.
  • Jan. 7 — Beat Michigan State 88-74 as a 2.5-point underdog (covered). The score (162) went over the 136.5 over/under total.
  • Jan. 10 — Won at Penn State 76-72 as a 1.5-point favorite (covered). The score (148) went over the 143.5 over/under total.
  • Jan. 13 — Lost at Wisconsin 71-63 as a 7.5-point underdog (did not cover). The score (134) went over the 132.5 over/under total.
  • Jan. 17 — Beat Maryland 72-69 at home as a 4.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (141) went over the 131.5 over/under total.
  • Jan. 20 — Lost at Nebraska 75-69 as a 3.5-point underdog (did not cover). The score (144) went over the 143.5 over/under total.
  • Jan. 24 — Beat No. 10 Illinois 96-91 in overtime at home as a 4.5-point underdog (covered). The score (187) went over the 146.5 over/under total.
  • Jan. 27 — Beat Ohio State 83-58 as a 2.5-point favorite (covered). The score (141) went over the 136.5 over/under total.
  • Jan. 31 — Lost at No. 2 Purdue 105-96 in overtime as a 14.5-point underdog (covered). The score (201) went over the 141.5 over/under total.
  • Feb. 3 — Lost at Minnesota 75-66 in overtime as a 1.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (141) went over the 137.5 over/under total.
  • Feb. 7 — Beat Nebraska 80-66 at home as a 1.5-point favorite (covered). The score (141) went over the 137.5 over/under total.
  • Feb. 11 — Beat Penn State 68-63 at home as a 7.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (131) went under the 147.5 over/under total.
  • Feb. 15 — Lost at Rutgers 63-60 as a 4.5-point underdog (covered). The score (123) went under the 129.5 over/under total.
  • TOM BREW COLUMN: For the second time in a month, the Indiana Hoosiers have had a nice eight-day stretch between games. They played well the last time, and will need to be locked in on a game plan Sunday against Northwestern at Assembly Hall. They'll play in front of a lot of former teammates, which should be fun, too. CLICK HERE
  • ALTERNATE UNIFORMS: Indiana will wear alternate uniforms as part of a collaboration with adidas and Fear of God for Sunday's game against Northwestern. CLICK HERE
  • 3 FACTORS: Indiana is back in action Sunday against Northwestern at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Here are three key factors that will help determine the game's outcome. CLICK HERE
  • JACKSON-DAVIS RETURNING TO ASSEMBLY HALL: Indiana hosts Northwestern Sunday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, and Indiana All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis will be there to watch his former team. CLICK HERE
  • MGBAKO'S DRAFT STOCK: Mackenzie Mgbako came to Indiana with projections that he might be a one-and-done lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Though he has improved throughout the year and averages 10.9 points, Mgbako has fallen off most draft boards. HoosiersNow.com talked with NBA draft analyst Corey Tulaba about Mgbako's professional prospects. CLICK HERE
  • MEET THE OPPONENT, NORTHWESTERN: The Indiana Hoosiers host the Northwestern Wildcats on Sunday in a key Big Ten matchup. Here's everything you need to know about the Wildcats ahead of this weekend's tilt. CLICK HERE
© 2024 ABG-SI LLC. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. - All Rights Reserved. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators’ opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Gambling content intended for 21+. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.