Bodog Beat

If you’re not familiar with the Chicago State Cougars, you’re not alone. (AP Images)

Chicago State has just joined the Great West Conference after an 11-17 SU season as an independent. The Cougars were in the Mid-Continent Conference (now the Summit League) before that.

That doesn’t mean Chicago State isn’t worth a look during this Monday’s matchup against the No. 16 Marquette Golden Eagles. The Cougars are 5-3-1 ATS over the past three years; Marquette, meanwhile, lost respected coach Tom Crean to Indiana. He’s been replaced by Buzz Williams, who was a rookie Division I coach last year at New Orleans (19-13 SU, 12-14 ATS) in the Sun Belt Conference.

Marquette is still a dangerous team in the Big East with four starters returning from last year’s 25-10 (17-12 ATS) squad. But the Eagles are soft in the post and a definite fade candidate while Williams gets his feet wet.