LIU vs. IU Indy: A Must-Watch College Matchup

College basketball is officially back, and we are already diving into the type of matchup that makes this sport so special. No blue bloods, no five-star hype, just two hungry programs fighting to make noise early in the season. These are the games that separate the die-hards from the casuals, the ones who live for empty gymnasium basketball. Long Island and IU Indy might not light up the national radar, but for those of us who love the grind, this is can’t-miss basketball. Two teams looking to bounce back, both eager to prove something, and all signs point to an underrated battle worth watching.

Get FREE Picks and Props Weekly

Sign up for
THE WEEKENDER NEWSLETTER

Get FREE Picks

Write Up Transparency

Be sure to follow me on X/Twitter @C_marchio2 to get my full card every day! Check my Action profile on the Action app @cmarchio. Picks are always FREE.

2024-25 Season: -14.5 Units

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

LIU vs. IU Indy Odds

Can the Jaguars protect their home floor and grab a win over LIU tonight?

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

LIU: +2.5 (+105)

IU INDY: -2.5 (-125)

Total

Over: 180 (-110)

Under: 180 (-110)

Moneyline

LIU: N/A

IU INDY: N/A

LIU vs. IU Indy Best Bet

I never thought I would be this fired up to write about a Long Island vs IU Indy matchup, but here we are, and I’m grinning ear to ear. This isn’t your typical marquee game, but it’s got everything that makes college basketball great. Two gritty programs, both coming off tough openers, both desperate to make an early statement. Some might scoff at calling this my matchup of the week, but if you’re a true college hoops sicko, you already know why this one has juice.

Their chemistry could not be stronger ⚗️🧪@ColbyMBets is stunned @Shaggy_Bets knew exactly which gross College Hoops matchup for tomorrow he has his eyes on already 👀 pic.twitter.com/rVz7MWVx3E

— Betting News (@YourBettingNews) November 5, 2025

GAME OF THE WEEK

Both the Sharks and Jaguars dropped their openers to Power 5 opponents to kick off the 2025–26 season. Long Island fell to Notre Dame 89 to 67, while IU Indy took a 118 to 102 loss to Ohio State. And if you know anything about IU Indy, seeing them score over 100 points feels like a Super Bowl parade. They covered the 34 point spread, shot 50% from the field, and 31.6% from deep. The big issue? Fouls. The Jags sent Ohio State to the line 53 times, where the Buckeyes hit 42 of them. Meanwhile, IU Indy only went 12 for 20 at the stripe.

That has to tighten up. If the Jaguars can cut down on fouls and keep the Sharks off the line, they can run away with this one. Long Island, for their part, did a great job attacking the rim against Notre Dame, getting to the line 31 times, though they only converted 19.

Keep Doubting the Jaguars

The advanced models from Bart Torvik, KenPom, and Haslametrics all lean Long Island. That does not bother me. They are numbers driven, and this spot feels like it has more context than the data shows. Long Island faced a Notre Dame defense that smothered them, while IU Indy just went blow for blow in a track meet with Ohio State.

This total should be high, and rightfully so. Neither team is known for pace, but there will be points. This feels like an all time bounce back spot for the Jaguars, back home after putting up a strong fight on the road, facing a Sharks team starting the year with back to back road games.

This game might not grab national headlines, but real hoops fans know this is where the grind lives. Two programs trying to find their footing, both showing flashes of what could make them fun watches all season long. IU Indy proved they can score and hang around with big-time programs, and now they get a home crowd behind them. I would not be shocked if the IU Indy faithful pack the house tonight after such a massive performance the other day. Expect a back and forth battle filled with streaky shooting and plenty of emotion. For a November matchup, this one has every bit of midseason juice.

Best Bet: IU Indy -2.5 (-125) on BetOnline