Thursday, March 9, 2017

Verizon Center

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The Illinois Fighting Illini travel to Verizon Center to play the Michigan Wolverines on Thursday, March 9, 2017. The opening line for this game has Michigan as 6.5 point favorites.

The Fighting Illini come into this game with an overall record of 18-13 and a road record of 3-6. They are 13-15 against the spread and their over/under record is 11-18. The Wolverines have an overall record of 20-11 and a home record of 15-3. They have an over/under record of 18-9 and they are 12-16 against the spread.

For expert handicapping advice on this matchup and other NCAA basketball games check out our handicapping tips.

Malcolm Hill comes into this contest averaging 17.2 points per game while playing 33.4 minutes per night so far this season for the Fighting Illini. He pulls down 5.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is currently at 79%. Maverick Morgan averages 10.4 points per game in 25.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.8 assists per contest and 4.5 rebounds per game for Illinois. His field goal percentage is 55% for the year while his free throw percentage is 66%.

Derrick Walton averages 14.5 points per game while playing 34.1 minutes per contest this year for the Wolverines. He grabs 4.7 rebounds per game and has 4.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage currently is at 86%. Zak Irvin averages 12.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.3 rebounds per contest and 3.0 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 69%.

Illinois averages 72.3 points per contest this season which ranks them 204th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 2.6 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team which has them ranked 148th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 89th in the country. They average 35.1 rebounds per game and 13.5 assists per game which ranks them 216th and 178th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 247th with 12.4 per game. The Fighting Illini allow 69.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 110th in the nation. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc ranking them 160th and 137th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 33.3 rebounds a game which ranks 82nd and they give up 11.4 assists per contest which puts them in 50th place in the country. They force 12.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 130th in Division 1.

Michigan averages 74.6 points per game this year which ranks them 148th in Division 1 college basketball. Their average scoring margin is 9.0 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team which has them sitting in the 29th spot in the country. Behind the arc they shoot 39% which is good for 38th in the nation. They average 29.5 rebounds per game and 13.8 assists per contest which ranks them 346th and 152nd respectively. In the turnover department the Wolverines rank 351st with 9.5 per game. The Wolverines allow 65.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 40th in the country. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc ranking them 305th and 315th in those defensive statistics. Opponents average 31.1 rebounds a game which ranks 18th and they give up 11.2 assists per contest which puts them in 39th place in the nation. The Wolverines force 12.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 142nd in college basketball.

The Fighting Illini are 171st in the nation in offensive rating at 104.4. They assist on 51.9% of their shots, which ranks 190th in the country. In terms of pace they average 69 possessions per 40 minutes, which places them 222nd among D-1 teams. They are 152nd in effective field goal percentage with 51%. As a team they are 176th in the country in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3 pointers on 36% of their shots. Illinois turns the ball over an average of 15.8 times per 100 possessions and they get a steal on 7.8% of their opponents possessions. Their total rebound percentage of 51.3% places them 123rd in Division 1 while their offensive rebound percentage is 29.2%.

The Wolverines are 10th in the nation in offensive rating at 116.3. They assist on 52.8% of their shots, which ranks 166th in the country. In terms of pace they average 63.6 possessions per 40 minutes, which places them 347th among D-1 teams. They are 11th in effective field goal percentage with 57%. As a team they are 10th in the country in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3 pointers on 45% of their shots. Michigan turns the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions and they get a steal on 9% of their opponents possessions. Their total rebound percentage of 48.7% places them 265th in Division 1 while their offensive rebound percentage is 25.9%.

Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 13-15 against the spread

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 11-18 against the over/under

Michigan Wolverines Betting Trends

The Michigan Wolverines are 12-16 against the spread

The Michigan Wolverines are 18-9 against the over/under

Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

01/12/17 G D.J. Williams Personal out indefinitely

Michigan Wolverines Injuries

No key injuries to report

Josh's Pick: Take Michigan -6.5

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