Illinois at Nebraska College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/15/2018

Monday, January 15, 2018

Pinnacle Bank Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Illinois Fighting Illini head to Pinnacle Bank Arena to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Monday, January 15, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Nebraska as 5 point favorites.

Illinois heads into this matchup with a mark of 10-8. They currently have a point differential of 7.6 as they are averaging 79.9 points per contest while giving up 72.3 per game. Nebraska has an overall record of 12-7. They are averaging 74.0 points per game and surrendering 70.7, good for a point differential of 3.3.

Valuable Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 6-7 against the spread this season

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 5-9 against the over/under this year

Important Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Trends

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 12-5 against the spread this season

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 6-11 against the over/under this year

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

01/12/18 G Te'Jon Lucas Disciplinary is OUT

Key Nebraska Cornhuskers Injuries

01/12/18 C Jordy Tshimanga Personal is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Leron Black averages 14.5 points per contest while playing 25.2 minutes per night this year. He grabs 5.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage is 81%. Trent Frazier averages 10.6 points per contest in 22.2 minutes per game this year. He averages 2.5 assists per game and 1.7 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% for the season while his free throw percentage is 66%.

Player Spotlight

James Palmer scores 15.2 points per contest while playing 28.6 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 4.4 rebounds per contest and has 2.6 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is at 73%. Isaac Copeland averages 12.8 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 29.3 minutes per game. He also brings in 6.5 rebounds per game and has 1.3 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 72%.

Useful Team Statistics

Illinois averages 79.9 points per contest this year, which is 65th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 7.6 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 204th. From 3-point territory they shoot 33%, which is good for 253rd in Division 1. They average 36.8 boards per contest and 14.7 assists per game, which ranks them 140th and 127th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 73rd with 14.8 per game. The Fighting Illini allow 72.3 points per contest, which is 181st in the country. They also surrender a 44% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 218th and 79th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 33.6 rebounds a game which ranks 111th, and they allow 11.6 assists per game which puts them in 58th place in college basketball. They force 18.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 347th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Nebraska is 188th in the country with 74.0 points per contest this season. They are 280th in the nation in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 3.3. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 124th in Division 1. They are 126th in the country in rebounding with 37.1 boards per contest and 147th in assists per game with 14.4. The Cornhuskers are 318th in turnovers per contest with 11.5. The Cornhuskers give up 70.7 points per game, which ranks them 142nd in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 42% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 107th and 89th in those defensive statistics. They rank 127th with 12.6 dimes allowed per game and 324th with 39.4 boards surrendered per contest. The Cornhuskers are 167th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 13.5 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Fighting Illini are 138th in the nation in offensive rating with 106.4, and their defensive rating of 96.4 is ranked 74th. In terms of pace they are 55th in the country with 73.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 234th. As a team they are 203rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 244th in Division 1. Illinois is 150th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 21.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 155th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Nebraska is 319th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 47%, which is 54th in the nation. The Cornhuskers are 178th in the country in offensive rating with 104.6, and their defensive rating of 99.9 is ranked 138th. In terms of pace they are 203rd in Division 1 with 70.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 270th. As a team they are 258th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 238th in the nation.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Illinois +5

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