New Mexico State at Illinois College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/16/2017

Saturday, December 16, 2017

United Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The New Mexico State Aggies head to United Center to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday, December 16, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Illinois as 5 point favorites.

New Mexico State heads into this matchup with a mark of 8-2. They currently have a point differential of 10.1 as they are averaging 74.9 points per contest while giving up 64.8 per game. Illinois has an overall mark of 8-4. They are averaging 83.7 points per contest and giving up 70.5, which is a point differential of 13.2.

Valuable New Mexico State Aggies Betting Trends

The New Mexico State Aggies are 1-0 against the spread this season

The New Mexico State Aggies are 0-2 against the over/under this year

Important Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 5-4 against the spread this season

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 3-6 against the over/under this year

Key New Mexico State Aggies Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

12/15/17 F Kipper Nichols Foot is "?" Saturday vs New Mexico State
12/15/17 F Leron Black Elbow is "?" Saturday vs New Mexico State

Player Spotlight

Zach Lofton averages 18.9 points per contest while playing 29.8 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.7 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is 66%. Jemerrio Jones averages 10.7 points per contest in 27.4 minutes per game this year. He averages 3.3 assists per game and 11.5 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% for the season while his free throw percentage is 52%.

Player Spotlight

Leron Black scores 13.6 points per contest while playing 25.1 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 5.2 rebounds per contest and has 1.5 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 54% and his free throw percentage is at 81%. Michael Finke averages 12.3 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 26.2 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.8 rebounds per game and has 1.3 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 56% and his free throw percentage is 60%.

Useful Team Statistics

New Mexico State averages 74.9 points per contest this year, which is 191st in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 10.1 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 86th. From 3-point territory they shoot 31%, which is good for 306th in Division 1. They average 40.8 boards per contest and 14.2 assists per game, which ranks them 34th and 175th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 109th with 14.5 per game. The Aggies allow 64.8 points per contest, which is 48th in the country. They also surrender a 41% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 94th and 135th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 30.0 rebounds a game which ranks 17th, and they allow 9.1 assists per game which puts them in 6th place in college basketball. They force 15.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 241st in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Illinois is 42nd in the country with 83.7 points per contest this season. They are 188th in the nation in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 13.2. They shoot 33% from beyond the arc, which is good for 261st in Division 1. They are 124th in the country in rebounding with 37.8 boards per contest and 103rd in assists per game with 15.3. The Fighting Illini are 79th in turnovers per contest with 15.0. The Fighting Illini give up 70.5 points per game, which ranks them 148th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 200th and 205th in those defensive statistics. They rank 39th with 10.8 dimes allowed per game and 48th with 31.6 boards surrendered per contest. The Fighting Illini are 344th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 20.2 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Aggies are 156th in the nation in offensive rating with 106.5, and their defensive rating of 92.2 is ranked 52nd. In terms of pace they are 220th in the country with 70.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 119th. As a team they are 181st in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 168th in Division 1. New Mexico State is 118th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 19.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 108th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Illinois is 177th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 23.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 169th in Division 1. The Fighting Illini are 51st in the nation in defensive rating with 92.2, and their offensive rating of 109.4 is ranked 104th. They are 41st in D-1 in pace with 74.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 216th. As a unit they are 166th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 203rd in the country.

Who will win tonight's New Mexico State/Illinois college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take New Mexico State +5

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