Thursday, January 28, 2016

State Farm Center

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The Ohio State Buckeyes travel to State Farm Center to play the Illinois Fighting Illini on Thursday, January 28, 2016. The opening line for this game has Ohio State as 6 point favorites and the over/under has been set at 140.

The Buckeyes come into this game with an overall record of 13-8 and a road record of 1-4. They are 11-10 against the spread and their over/under record is 10-12. The Fighting Illini have an overall record of 10-10 and a home record of 5-4. They have an over/under record of 10-7 and they are 9-8 against the spread.

Marc Loving comes into this contest averaging 13.6 points per game while playing 33.2 minutes per night so far this season for the Buckeyes. He pulls down 5.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is currently at 75%. Keita Bates-Diop averages 11.9 points per game in 30.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.2 assists per contest and 5.9 rebounds per game for Ohio State. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 81%.

Malcolm Hill averages 18.7 points per game while playing 34.5 minutes per contest this year for the Fighting Illini. He grabs 5.9 rebounds per game and has 3.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage currently is at 82%. Kendrick Nunn averages 17.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.4 rebounds per contest and 1.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 81%.

Ohio State averages 71.3 points per contest this season which ranks them 196th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 5.4 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team which has them ranked 105th. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 185th in the country. They average 38.7 rebounds per game and 12.5 assists per game which ranks them 64th and 218th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 230th with 13.4 per game. The Buckeyes allow 65.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 40th in the nation. They also allow a 39% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc ranking them 17th and 112th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.6 rebounds a game which ranks 160th and they give up 11.5 assists per contest which puts them in 64th place in the country. They force 12.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 202nd in the Division 1.

Illinois averages 74.2 points per game this year which ranks them 134th in Division 1 college basketball. Their average scoring margin is -1.8 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team which has them sitting in the 153rd spot in the country. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 108th in the nation. They average 32.1 rebounds per game and 14.2 assists per contest which ranks them 315th and 110th respectively. In the turnover department the Fighting Illini rank 11th with 10.1 per game. The Fighting Illini allow 76 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 259th in the country. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 39% average from behind the arc ranking them 313th and 334th in those defensive statistics. Opponents average 36.8 rebounds a game which ranks 206th and they give up 15.2 assists per contest which puts them in 295th place in the nation. The Fighting Illini force 13.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 116th in college basketball.

The Buckeyes average 65.6 points per game on the road this season and they have scored 65 ppg in their past 3 contests. They have an average scoring differential of -11.4 on the road and in their past 3 games their difference is -8.7 per contest. The Buckeyes have an offensive rating of 103.2 and they assist on 49.1% of their shots. In terms of pace they average 68.7 possessions per 40 minutes and their effective field goal percentage is 51%. As a team they have a true shooting percentage of 54% and they shoot 3 pointers on 34% of their shots. Ohio State turns the ball over an average of 16.9 times per 100 possessions and they get a steal on 8.8% of their opponents possessions. Their total rebound percentage is 52.1% while their offensive rebound percentage is 30.6%.

The Fighting Illini score 77.7 ppg at home and they have averaged 70.7 points per contest in their last 3 games.They have an average scoring differential of -13.3 in their past 3 contests and at home this season they have a difference of 1.1 points per game. The Fighting Illini have a rating on offense of 104.9 and 55% of their shots are assisted. They possess the ball 70.4 times per 40 minutes and their effective field goal percentage for the year is 51%. As an offensive unit they have a true shooting percentage of 54% and they attempt 3 pointers on 38% of their shots. Illinois turns it over an average of 12.9 times per 100 possessions and they steal the ball on 7.6% of their opponents possessions. Their total rebound percentage is 46.6% while their offensive rebound percentage for the season is 22.3%.

Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Trends

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 11-10 against the spread

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 10-12 against the over/under

Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 9-8 against the spread

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 10-7 against the over/under

Ohio State Buckeyes Injuries

12/17/15 G Austin Grandstaff Personal has left team

Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

12/20/15 F Leron Black Knee out indefinitely
11/14/15 G Tracy Abrams Achilles out for season

Guy's Pick: Take Ohio State

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