Marshall at Illinois College Basketball Picks & Predictions 11/19/2017

Sunday, November 19, 2017

State Farm Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Marshall Thundering Herd travel to State Farm Center to play the Illinois Fighting Illini on Sunday, November 19, 2017. The opening line for this game has Illinois as 12.5 point favorites.

Marshall heads into this matchup with a mark of 2-1. They currently have a point differential of 5.7 as they are averaging 89.3 points per contest while giving up 83.7 per game. Illinois has an overall record of 3-0. They are averaging 87.0 points per game and surrendering 67.3, good for a point differential of 19.7.

Valuable Marshall Thundering Herd Betting Trends

The Marshall Thundering Herd are 1-1 against the spread this season

The Marshall Thundering Herd are 2-0 against the over/under this year

Important Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

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

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

Key Marshall Thundering Herd Injuries

11/07/17 G Rondale Watson Eligibility is out indefinitely

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Ajdin Penava averages 18.3 points per game in 34 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.7 assists per contest and 9.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 74% for the year while his free throw percentage is 53%. Jon Elmore averages 28.3 points per game while playing 37.3 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 2 rebounds per game and dishes out 7.7 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 62% while his free throw percentage is at 92%.

Player Spotlight

Mark Smith averages 14.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 24 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.3 rebounds per contest and 2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 100%. Leron Black averages 15 points per game while playing 22 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5 rebounds per game and has 3.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 62% and his free throw percentage is at 90%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Thundering Herd allow 83.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 303rd in the nation. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 41% average from behind the arc, ranking them 251st and 310th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.0 rebounds a game which ranks 316th, and they give up 14.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 248th place in the country. They force 18.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 301st in college basketball. Marshall averages 89.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 52nd in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 5.7 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 101st. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 188th in D-1. They average 34.0 rebounds per game and 18.3 assists per game, which ranks them 266th and 55th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 294th with 11.3 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Fighting Illini surrender 67.3 points per contest, which ranks them 116th in the country. Their defense allows a 39% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 101st and 128th in those defensive statistics. They rank 68th with 10.3 assists allowed per contest, and 69th with 31.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Fighting Illini are 322nd in the nation in forcing turnovers with 19.3 per game this season. Illinois is 65th in Division 1 with 87.0 points per game this year. They are 149th in the country in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 19.7. They shoot 23% from 3-point range, which is good for 333rd in the nation. They are 159th in college basketball in rebounding with 38.7 boards per game and 106th in assists per contest with 16.0. The Fighting Illini are 101st in turnovers per game with 15.3.

Advanced Statistics

The Thundering Herd are 81st in the nation in offensive rating with 115, and their defensive rating of 107.7 is ranked 272nd. In terms of pace they are 107th in the country with 74.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 90th. As a team they are 82nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 45% of their shots, ranking 46th in Division 1. Marshall is 304th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 19.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 256th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Illinois is 150th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 21.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 44%, which is 71st in Division 1. The Fighting Illini are 73rd in the nation in defensive rating with 87.4, and their offensive rating of 113 is ranked 98th. They are 56th in D-1 in pace with 76.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 200th. As a unit they are 111th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 194th in the country.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Illinois -12.5

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