Wednesday, March 1, 2017

State Farm Center

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The Michigan State Spartans head to State Farm Center to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. The opening line for this game has Illinois as 1.5 point favorites.

The Spartans come into this game with an overall record of 18-11 and a road record of 2-5. They are 15-13 against the spread and their over/under record is 14-13. The Fighting Illini have an overall record of 17-12 and a home record of 11-5. They have an over/under record of 10-17 and they are 12-14 against the spread.

Miles Bridges comes into this contest averaging 16.3 points per game while playing 31.7 minutes per night so far this season for the Spartans. He pulls down 8.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 50% while his free throw percentage is currently at 64%. Nick Ward averages 13.4 points per game in 19.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.4 assists per contest and 6 rebounds per game for Michigan State. His field goal percentage is 60% for the year while his free throw percentage is 58%.

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Malcolm Hill averages 17 points per game while playing 33 minutes per contest this year for the Fighting Illini. He grabs 5.6 rebounds per game and has 2.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage currently is at 79%. Maverick Morgan averages 10 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 24.8 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.3 rebounds per contest and 0.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 56% and his free throw percentage is 67%.

Michigan State averages 72.4 points per contest this season which ranks them 186th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 3.3 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team which has them ranked 34th. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 48th in the country. They average 36.4 rebounds per game and 17.6 assists per game which ranks them 122nd and 6th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 288th with 14.4 per game. The Spartans allow 69.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 88th in the nation. They also allow a 41% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc ranking them 33rd and 151st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 33.4 rebounds a game which ranks 79th and they give up 13.2 assists per contest which puts them in 170th place in the country. They force 11.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 305th in Division 1.

Illinois averages 71.4 points per game this year which ranks them 211th in Division 1 college basketball. Their average scoring margin is 1.2 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team which has them sitting in the 149th spot in the country. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 140th in the nation. They average 35 rebounds per game and 12.9 assists per contest which ranks them 195th and 202nd respectively. In the turnover department the Fighting Illini rank 151st with 13 per game. The Fighting Illini allow 70.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 108th in the country. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc ranking them 152nd and 130th in those defensive statistics. Opponents average 32.9 rebounds a game which ranks 56th and they give up 11.7 assists per contest which puts them in 59th place in the nation. The Fighting Illini force 12.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 229th in college basketball.

The Spartans average 66.2 points per game on the road this season and they have scored 78.3 ppg in their past 3 contests. They have an average scoring differential of -6.6 on the road and in their past 3 games their difference is 3 per contest. The Spartans have an offensive rating of 104.7 and they assist on 67.3% of their shots. In terms of pace they average 68.9 possessions per 40 minutes and their effective field goal percentage is 55%. As a team they have a true shooting percentage of 57% and they shoot 3 pointers on 37% of their shots. Michigan State turns the ball over an average of 18.6 times per 100 possessions and they get a steal on 6.8% of their opponents possessions. Their total rebound percentage is 52.2% while their offensive rebound percentage is 28.4%. The Spartans give up 72.8 points per game on the road this season and they have surrendered 75.3 points per contest in their last 3 games.

The Fighting Illini score 74.9 ppg at home and they have averaged 69.7 points per contest in their last 3 games.They have an average scoring differential of 12 in their past 3 contests and at home this season they have a difference of 6.5 points per game. The Fighting Illini have a rating on offense of 104.6 and 51.7% of their shots are assisted. They possess the ball 69.3 times per 40 minutes and their effective field goal percentage for the year is 52%. As an offensive unit they have a true shooting percentage of 55% and they attempt 3 pointers on 35% of their shots. Illinois turns it over an average of 16.1 times per 100 possessions and they steal the ball on 7.7% of their opponents possessions. Their total rebound percentage is 51.7% while their offensive rebound percentage for the season is 29.8%. The Fighting Illini give up 68.4 points per contest at home this year and they have given up 57.7 points per game in their past 3 contests.

Michigan State Spartans Betting Trends

The Michigan State Spartans are 15-13 against the spread

The Michigan State Spartans are 14-13 against the over/under

Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 12-14 against the spread

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 10-17 against the over/under

Michigan State Spartans Injuries

11/11/16 F Ben Carter Knee out for season
11/11/16 F Gavin Schilling Knee out for season
02/18/17 G Eron Harris Knee out for season

Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

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

Tony's Pick: Take Michigan State +1.5

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