DePaul at Illinois College Basketball Picks & Predictions 11/17/2017

Friday, November 17, 2017

State Farm Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The DePaul Blue Demons travel to State Farm Center to play the Illinois Fighting Illini on Friday, November 17, 2017. The opening line for this game has Illinois as 7.5 point favorites.

DePaul heads into this matchup with a mark of 1-1. They currently have a point differential of 5.0 as they are averaging 69.5 points per contest while giving up 64.5 per game. Illinois has an overall mark of 2-0. They are averaging 89.5 points per contest and giving up 64.5, which is a point differential of 25.0.

Valuable DePaul Blue Demons Betting Trends

The DePaul Blue Demons are 1-1 against the spread this season

The DePaul Blue Demons are 0-2 against the over/under this year

Important Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 0-1 against the spread this season

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 0-1 against the over/under this year

Key DePaul Blue Demons Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Tre'Darius McCallum averages 15.5 points per game while playing 32.5 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 6 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 67% while his free throw percentage is at 0%. Max Strus averages 13 points per game in 30.5 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.1 assists per contest and 5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 80%.

Player Spotlight

Leron Black averages 18.5 points per game while playing 24.5 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 7 rebounds per game and has 3.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 67% and his free throw percentage is at 90%. Aaron Jordan averages 13.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 17 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.5 rebounds per contest and 1.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 58% and his free throw percentage is 90%.

Useful Team Statistics

DePaul averages 69.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 257th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 5.0 and their shooting percentage is 38% as a team, which has them ranked 292nd. Behind the arc they shoot 24%, which is good for 317th in the country. They average 44.0 rebounds per game and 11.0 assists per game, which ranks them 48th and 271st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 335th with 7.5 per game. The Blue Demons allow 64.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 90th in Division 1. They also allow a 40% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 111th and 231st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 37.0 rebounds a game which ranks 207th and they give up 9.0 assists per contest, which puts them in 47th place in college basketball. They force 12.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 81st in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Illinois is 56th in the country with 89.5 points per game this year. They are 112th in D-1 in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 25.0. They shoot 24% from 3-point range, which is good for 320th in college basketball. They are 149th in the nation in rebounding with 39.0 boards per game, and 86th in assists per contest with 17.0. The Fighting Illini are 160th in turnovers per game with 14.0. The Fighting Illini surrender 64.5 points per contest, which ranks them 91st in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 138th and 130th in those defensive statistics. They rank 67th with 10.0 assists allowed per contest and 40th with 29.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Fighting Illini are 321st in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 20.5 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Blue Demons are 155th in the country in defensive rating with 95.6, and their offensive rating of 103 is ranked 198th. They are 309th in college basketball in pace with 67.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 42% is 312th. As a unit they are 311th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 45% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shot attempts, ranking 285th in D-1. DePaul is 340th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 8.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 150th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Illinois is 199th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 23.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 45%, which is 103rd in the nation. The Fighting Illini are 79th in the country in offensive rating with 116.2, and their defensive rating of 83.8 is ranked 65th. In terms of pace they are 70th in Division 1 with 76.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 157th. As a team they are 78th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 201st in the nation.

Who will win tonight's DePaul/Illinois college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Illinois -7.5

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