The Saint Francis Red Flash take on the Chicago State Cougars in Chicago, IL. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. ET on NEC Front Row.
Chicago State is favored by 1.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -134. The total is set at 146.5 points.
Here’s my Saint Francis vs. Chicago State prediction and college basketball picks for February 9, 2026.
Saint Francis vs Chicago State Prediction
My Pick: Lean Chicago State -1.5
My Saint Francis vs Chicago State best bet is on the Cougars to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Saint Francis vs. Chicago State Odds
| Saint Francis Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -105 | 146.5 -110 / -110 | +114 |
| Chicago State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -115 | 146.5 -110 / -110 | -134 |
- Saint Francis vs Chicago State spread: Saint Francis -1.5
- Saint Francis vs Chicago State over/under: 146.5 points
- Saint Francis vs Chicago State moneyline: Saint Francis +114, Chicago State -134
Saint Francis vs Chicago State College Basketball Betting Preview
Saint Francis Basketball
Saint Francis enters Monday’s matchup at 6-17 overall and 4-6 in NEC play. Red Flash head coach Luke McConnell is in his first season at the helm, replacing longtime coach Rob Krimmel after 29 years with the program — 13 of which he served as head coach.
After 12 years of failing to make the NCAA Tournament, Krimmel finally broke through in his final season, leading the Red Flash to a NEC title in epic fashion after yet another sub-.500 regular season.
Like Krimmel, McConnell is also a former Saint Francis player who transitioned into an assistant coaching role before taking over as head coach. His tenure got off to a brutal start, with the Red Flash going 2-11 in non-conference play, with both wins coming against non-Division I opponents.
The past couple of weeks have been more forgiving for the first-year head coach, though, as Saint Francis has won half of its NEC games so far and prevailed in two of its last three matchups.
Saint Francis’ offense is led by 6-foot-6 guard Skylar Wicks, who's posting a stellar 17 points and seven rebounds per game in his senior season. Wicks was an excellent transfer portal addition for the Red Flash, as previous health issues significantly impacted his value.
The shooting guard is extremely versatile on both ends of the floor and is one of the most talented players in the NEC.
Alongside Wicks, 6-foot-2 point guard Zion Russell is also enjoying a strong senior year, averaging just under 12 points per game while adding four rebounds and three assists.
Fortunately for McConnell, the NEC is one of the weakest leagues in the sport. McConnell’s group ranks outside the top 330 nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency, though, according to KenPom.
Chicago State Basketball
Chicago State enters Monday night’s clash in even worse shape than its opponent. The Cougars are just 1-10 in conference play, with a 3-21 overall record.
Landon Bussie is in his first campaign with the Cougars after previously serving as head coach at Alcorn State for five seasons.
Bussie already faced an uphill battle in his first year with the program, as Chicago State has consistently remained one of the worst teams in Division I college basketball over the past decade. In its 19-year span as a Division I program, Chicago State has failed to reach 10 wins in 14 of those seasons.
The Cougars’ offense is led by two senior standouts: 6-foot-6 forward CJ Ray and 6-foot-5 shooting guard Marcus Tankersley. Both are averaging just under 14 points per game in their first seasons at Chicago State.
Ray is a highly agile two-way player who can score both inside and on the perimeter. Tankersley, meanwhile, prefers to create his own offense, using his athleticism to get into the lane and finish near the basket.
The two seniors represent bright spots at the end of an otherwise dark tunnel for Chicago State.
Ironically, the Cougars rank one spot ahead of Monday’s opponent in both offensive and defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
If Chicago State is to exact revenge for its 21-point road loss to Saint Francis a couple of weeks ago, it'll likely come on the back of Ray and Tankersley’s offensive production.
Saint Francis vs. Chicago State Betting Analysis
In an NEC matchup between two spiraling teams, the Red Flash are a short road favorite after clobbering Chicago State in their first meeting a few weeks ago.
I lean toward the home underdog Cougars catching points in Monday night’s conference battle, but I'll likely be passing on the matchup.
My Pick: Lean Chicago State -1.5
