Illinois at Michigan State College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/20/2018

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Breslin Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Illinois Fighting Illini travel to Breslin Center to play the Michigan State Spartans on Tuesday, February 20, 2018. The opening line for this game has Michigan State as 17.5 point favorites.

Illinois heads into this matchup with a mark of 13-15. They currently have a point differential of 3.1 as they are averaging 75.6 points per contest while giving up 72.5 per game. Michigan State has an overall mark of 26-3. They are averaging 82.6 points per contest and giving up 64.8, which is a point differential of 17.8.

Valuable Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 10-13 against the spread this season

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 9-14 against the over/under this year

Important Michigan State Spartans Betting Trends

The Michigan State Spartans are 14-13 against the spread this season

The Michigan State Spartans are 15-13 against the over/under this year

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

02/19/18 F Michael Finke Concussion is "?" Tuesday vs Michigan State

Key Michigan State Spartans Injuries

11/08/17 G Kyle Ahrens Foot is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Trent Frazier averages 12.3 points per game in 25.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.8 assists per contest and 1.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 41% for the year while his free throw percentage is 64%. Leron Black averages 15.1 points per game while playing 26 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 5.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 0.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is at 80%.

Player Spotlight

Nick Ward averages 13.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 19.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 7.6 rebounds per contest and 0.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 68% and his free throw percentage is 61%. Miles Bridges averages 17 points per game while playing 30.6 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.9 rebounds per game and has 2.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 90%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Fighting Illini allow 72.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 178th in the nation. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 298th and 78th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.9 rebounds a game which ranks 80th, and they give up 12.5 assists per contest, which puts them in 107th place in the country. They force 17.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 346th in college basketball. Illinois averages 75.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 130th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 3.1 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 221st. Behind the arc they shoot 32% which is good for 319th in D-1. They average 34.0 rebounds per game and 13.4 assists per game, which ranks them 249th and 194th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 82nd with 14.1 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Spartans surrender 64.8 points per contest, which ranks them 22nd in the country. Their defense allows a 36% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 1st and 95th in those defensive statistics. They rank 104th with 12.4 assists allowed per contest, and 13th with 30.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Spartans are 11th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 10.5 per game this season. Michigan State is 28th in Division 1 with 82.6 points per game this year. They are 3rd in the country in shooting at 52%, while their average scoring margin is 17.8. They shoot 42% from 3-point range, which is good for 3rd in the nation. They are 6th in college basketball in rebounding with 41.2 boards per game and 1st in assists per contest with 20.2. The Spartans are 123rd in turnovers per game with 13.6.

Advanced Statistics

The Fighting Illini are 170th in the nation in offensive rating with 104.6, and their defensive rating of 100.3 is ranked 115th. In terms of pace they are 93rd in the country with 71.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 260th. As a team they are 244th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 224th in Division 1. Illinois is 130th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 21.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 271st in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Michigan State is 110th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 42%, which is 1st in Division 1. The Spartans are 11th in the nation in defensive rating with 93.3, and their offensive rating of 119 is ranked 5th. They are 216th in D-1 in pace with 69.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 59% is 5th. As a unit they are 4th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 62% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 230th in the country.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Michigan State -17.5

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