The Northern Iowa Panthers take on the Murray State Racers in Murray, Kentucky. Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m. EST on CBS Sports Network.
Murray State is favored by 5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -225. The total is set at 142.5 points.
Here’s my Northern Iowa vs. Murray State prediction and college basketball picks for February 9, 2026.
Northern Iowa vs Murray State Prediction
My Pick: Northern Iowa +5 or Better
My Northern Iowa vs Murray State best bet is on the Panthers to cover. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Northern Iowa vs. Murray State Odds
| N. Iowa Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5 -110 | 142.5 -110o / -110u | +185 |
| Murray State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5 -110 | 142.5 -110o / -110u | -225 |
- Northern Iowa vs Murray State spread: Murray State -5
- Northern Iowa vs Murray State over/under: 142.5
- Northern Iowa vs Murray State moneyline: Northern Iowa +185, Murray State -225
- Northern Iowa vs Murray State best bet: Northern Iowa +5 or Better
Northern Iowa vs Murray State College Basketball Betting Preview
I project Murray State as a 2.9-point home favorite, so I show some value on the road ‘dog.
The Racers are awesome. I adore Ryan Miller and Fred King.
However, their drop-coverage defense is still relatively vulnerable, which is why they allowed a whopping 81 points to an uber-slow-paced Panthers team a few weeks ago in a five-point loss.
Meanwhile, Northern Iowa has rounded back into form under Ben Jacobson, and the return of Tristan Smith should really help the defense — he’s the team’s third-best defender by DBPR.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Murray State got its revenge at home in this rematch, but I’m willing to bet that the Panthers keep it within two possessions.
My Pick: Northern Iowa +5 or Better
