Valparaiso vs. UIC betting: College basketball preview for Jan. 4

Data Skrive
Data Skrive

The UIC Flames (5-9, 0-3 MVC) are underdogs (by 3.5 points) to break a five-game road losing streak when they visit the Valparaiso Beacons (6-8, 0-3 MVC) on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 3 p.m. ET. The over/under for the matchup is set at 144.5.

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Valparaiso Cover -3.5 vs UIC -110

Bet $20, Payout $38.18

Valparaiso vs. UIC betting lines

  • Valparaiso moneyline odds to win: -175
  • UIC moneyline odds to win: +145
  • Spread: Valparaiso (-3.5)
  • Total: 144.5

Valparaiso statistics, trends and more

As the home team

  • Valparaiso owns a worse record against the spread at home (4-3-0) than it does in away games (5-1-0).
  • The Beacons have eclipsed the over/under in two of seven home games (28.6%). They’ve fared better on the road, going over the total in four of six matchups (66.7%).

Last season stats

  • The Beacons put up 74.7 points per game and allowed 73.9 last year, ranking them 147th in the nation on offense and 238th defensively.
  • With 31.1 rebounds per game and 31.9 rebounds conceded, Valparaiso was 229th and 226th in the nation, respectively, last year.
  • With 12.0 assists per game last year, the Beacons were 292nd in the country.

Valparaiso betting records this season

  • ATS Record: 9-4-0 (Home: 4-3-0; Away: 5-1-0)
  • ATS Record When Favored by 3.5+: 2-2-0 (As Favorite: 3-2-0; As Underdog: 6-2-0)
  • O-U-P: 6-7-0 (Home: 2-5-0; Away: 4-2-0)
  • Record When Moneyline Favorite: 4-1 (Home: 4-1; Away: 0-0)
  • Record When Moneyline Underdog: 1-7 (Home: 0-2; Away: 1-5)
Field Goal % Opp. Field Goal % Rebounds Opp. Rebounds Assists Turnovers
40.2 (347th in nation) 42.0 (103rd) 34.8 (101st) 33.1 (285th) 12.0 (320th) 10.1 (59th)

Need to know more about sports betting before you put down a wager on Valparaiso vs. UIC? Here’s everything you need to know about how to bet.

UIC statistics, trends and more

As the away team

  • In 2025-26 against the spread, UIC has a better winning percentage at home (.500, 2-2-0 record) than away (.333, 2-4-0).
  • Flames games have gone above the over/under less frequently at home (one time out of four) than away (four of six) this year.
  • The Flames’ winning percentage at home as moneyline underdogs is .000, both at home (0-2) and away (0-4).

Last season stats

  • Offensively, the Flames averaged 76.5 points per game (104th-ranked in college basketball) last year. They allowed 73.8 points per contest on defense (234th-ranked).
  • UIC was 142nd in the nation with 32.7 boards per game. Meanwhile, it ranked 172nd with 31.1 rebounds allowed per game.
  • The Flames ranked 46th in the nation with 15.8 dimes per game.

UIC betting records this season

  • ATS Record: 4-8-0 (Home: 2-2-0; Away: 2-4-0)
  • ATS Record When Underdog by 3.5+: 3-3-0 (As Favorite: 1-4-0; As Underdog: 3-4-0)
  • O-U-P: 7-5-0 (Home: 1-3-0; Away: 4-2-0)
  • Record When Moneyline Favorite: 3-2 (Home: 1-1; Away: 1-1)
  • Record When Moneyline Underdog: 0-7 (Home: 0-2; Away: 0-4)
Field Goal % Opp. Field Goal % Rebounds Opp. Rebounds Assists Turnovers
44.2 (251st in nation) 43.4 (172nd) 32.2 (230th) 30.9 (172nd) 14.3 (186th) 12.4 (248th)
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