College basketball betting odds show that Eastern Illinois is coming off a poor 6-14 record in league action a year ago. Basketball betting experts remember that Eastern just couldn’t score. Eastern Illinois averaged just over 61 points per game according to basketball betting stats a year ago. College basketball betting odds on Eastern Illinois might be a little lower this season since the team does return all five starters.
Eastern Illinois is led by a frontcourt duo of Jake Byrne and Ousmane Cisse. Byrne averaged 7.7 points per game according to college basketball betting odds stats. Cisse averaged 5.9 points per game according to college basketball betting odds stats. Also returning according to college basketball betting odds experts are Romain Martin, Bobby Catchings and Mike Robinson. Martin can score from the backcourt as college basketball odds experts remember while Catchings can play guard or forward. Robinson led the team with 109 assists last season according to basketball betting stats but could not shoot. College basketball betting odds experts know that shooting guard Romain Martin was OVC co-Freshman of the Year last season after becoming the first freshman to lead Eastern Illinois in scoring. The Panthers will need Martin to do even more this year if they are to improve in the conference.
Eastern Illinois returns 11 players from last year’s team who appeared in at least 13 games with ten of those being letter winners according to college basketball betting odds experts. Included in those returnees are all five starters who combined for 79 percent of the Panthers scoring and 63 percent of the Panthers rebounding last season. College basketball betting odds experts know that Eastern Illinois has had a player win the OVC Freshman of the Year award in each of the past three seasons according to basketball betting experts. Two of those players (Mike Robinson, Romain Martin) are still with the program according to college basketball betting odds experts.
Eastern Illinois is not going to win the Ohio Valley this season but they may be improved against the college basketball betting odds and may spring some surprises along the way.