Chicago State vs. DePaul: Game Day Preview 2025

College basketball is finally back, and I could not be more fired up. The offseason felt like forever, but now it is time to dive headfirst into another year of chaos, upsets, and storylines that only this sport can deliver. Every season brings its surprises, but this one feels a little different, like a fresh start across the board. Programs are reloading, coaches are settling in, and fanbases are talking themselves into “this being the year.”

For me, there is no better place to start than home. The DePaul Blue Demons kick off their 2025-26 campaign tonight, and as a two-time alum who has seen the highs, lows, and everything in between, I am ready to see what Year Two of Chris Holtmann has in store.

Let’s get into it.

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2024-25 Season: -14.5 Units

It was a rough year. 2025-26 is a new year! Let us FEAST!

Chicago State vs. DePaul Odds

Does DePaul have a real shot at becoming one of the more competitive programs in Illinois?

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture among the top online sports betting sites. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a big bonus (100% if your first deposit is with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency) to bet on College Basketball games.

Spread

Chicago State: +24.5 (-108)

DePaul: -24.5 (-112)

Total

Over: 143.5 (-110)

Under: 143.5 (-110)

Moneyline

Chicago State: N/A

DePaul: N/A

Chicago State vs. DePaul Best Bet

Welcome to the 2025-26 College Basketball Season!!!

Welcome to another year of college hoops, and welcome into all the DePaul Blue Demons coverage from this two-time alum. It only felt right that my first college basketball write-up of the season would be DePaul’s opener. I have to pay my respects to a program I truly believe is on the right path, one that is ready to turn things around while also turning heads.

Holtmann’s Demons

Year two of Chris Holtmann should be a good one. I have always been a sucker for backing coaches in their second season at a program. On paper, his first year may have looked like another forgettable DePaul campaign, but if you watched closely down the stretch, they were starting to gel and keeping games competitive. I believe that momentum carries over into this season.

The Blue Demons return three of their top scorers in CJ Gunn, NJ Benson, and Layden Blocker. Defensively, Holtmann has hammered home that this year’s identity will be built on that end of the floor. The DePaud noted that DePaul should be a real headache defensively, which is why I lean heavily toward the under in this matchup. I grabbed 143.5 this morning, and that number still holds as I type this.

Last season, DePaul’s biggest issue was starting games ice cold, often taking a while to find their rhythm. I do not expect that to be as big of a problem this year, but with this being the first true game of the season, some early rust would not surprise me. Sure, they had exhibitions against Loyola Chicago and Notre Dame, but those are not the same as the real thing.

Another New Face at Chicago State

On the other side, Chicago State has been a punching bag for years, perennially one of the worst teams in the nation. This year, they hand the reins to a new head coach, Landon Bussie, who comes over from Alcorn State. Bussie believes he has a solid group, saying, “Being picked sixth shows that our peers recognize the strides we’ve made.” The Cougars were projected to finish sixth in the NEC, ahead of Saint Francis, Wagner, Le Moyne, and New Haven, all teams sitting in the mid-300s on Bart Torvik. For context, DePaul currently ranks 69th.

DePaul will also dictate the tempo in this one, playing at a much slower pace than what the Cougars prefer. With the Blue Demons controlling the rhythm and owning the floor from start to finish, I fully expect them to handle business, while keeping this game under 144 points.

SKO MONS!!