Northwestern vs. DePaul: Odds & Insights | November 14, 2025

As much as it pains me to type out this write up as a two-time DePaul graduate, it must be done. After DePaul’s embarrassing loss on Tuesday at home against the No. 320 ranked team on Bart Torvik, Buffalo, they have to regroup and take on a top 60 Northwestern team. The Wildcats are coming off destroying Cleveland State 110 to 63 on Monday. Was DePaul looking ahead to this game on Tuesday. I do not see how they can, they are DePaul. I think the people buying into DePaul are donating their money.

This line opened at 6 in favor of Northwestern and has since dropped to 4.5. If it goes any lower, I would say take Northwestern. They have nothing to look ahead to, their next game is a week away against Virginia. I lean heavily with the under in this spot.

What Home Court?

There is no shortage of reasons. For starters, this is not a true home game, it is much closer to a neutral site for these teams. Some will say this game is at Wintrust, so DePaul has home court advantage. How. They practice at McGrath-Phillips Arena on campus in Lincoln Park. Head Coach Chris Holtmann has even said he needs to get his boys to Wintrust more often. Wild stuff, they should always be at their home court. Secondly, Northwestern is not that far away, and their fans will travel. There will likely be more Wildcats fans at this game than DePaul fans. There is no home court advantage.

Another reason I lean the under is pace of play. In a game where I can see Northwestern owning the tempo, they are going to make this slow. Currently sitting in the lower 300s in pace of play this season, the Wildcats will likely want to grind this game down possession by possession. DePaul, on the other hand, likes it faster, but they can play slow when forced.

Defense Defense Defense

The Northwestern defense should suffocate DePaul from tip off to the final whistle. Northwestern is currently top 35 in adjusted defensive efficiency, effective field goal percentage defense, free throw rate defense, and two point defense. Even if Northwestern gets into foul trouble, DePaul cannot shoot free throws. How can they when they do not practice them on their home court. They are 324th in free throw percentage this season. Shockingly, they are still 27th in free throw rate offense, so they are getting to the line and clanking nearly 40% of their shots.

DePaul’s defense is actually one of the few highlights of this team, and it has been their anchor early on. Their defense has kept them alive in every game they have played this season. They are currently top 75 in adjusted defensive efficiency, effective field goal percentage defense, defensive rebounding, and two point defense.

I do not see DePaul improving all of their offensive red flags that have been front and center since the first game of the season, and this is going to be the best team they have faced up to this point. I would strongly suggest taking Northwestern on the spread or rolling with the under.