Iowa at Illinois College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/11/2018

Thursday, January 11, 2018

State Farm Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Iowa Hawkeyes travel to State Farm Center to play the Illinois Fighting Illini on Thursday, January 11, 2018. The opening line for this game has Illinois as 5 point favorites.

Iowa heads into this matchup with a mark of 9-9. They currently have a point differential of 5.7 as they are averaging 80.7 points per contest while giving up 75.0 per game. Illinois has an overall mark of 10-7. They are averaging 78.9 points per contest and giving up 70.5, which is a point differential of 8.4.

Valuable Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Trends

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 5-7 against the spread this season

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 9-5 against the over/under this year

Important Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

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

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 4-9 against the over/under this year

Key Iowa Hawkeyes Injuries

12/28/17 G Connor McCaffery Throat is out indefinitely

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Tyler Cook averages 14.7 points per game while playing 25.2 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 6.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 52% while his free throw percentage is at 69%. Jordan Bohannon averages 12.1 points per game in 29.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 5 assists per contest and 2.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 42% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%.

Player Spotlight

Leron Black averages 14.3 points per game while playing 25.7 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.7 rebounds per game and has 1.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is at 82%. Michael Finke averages 10.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 26.8 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.4 rebounds per contest and 1.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 61%.

Useful Team Statistics

Iowa averages 80.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 55th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 5.7 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 52nd. Behind the arc they shoot 39%, which is good for 53rd in the country. They average 40.0 rebounds per game and 19.2 assists per game, which ranks them 35th and 5th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 138th with 13.8 per game. The Hawkeyes allow 75.0 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 237th in Division 1. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 178th and 116th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 34.2 rebounds a game which ranks 134th and they give up 14.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 267th place in college basketball. They force 11.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 54th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Illinois is 81st in the country with 78.9 points per game this year. They are 218th in D-1 in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is 8.4. They shoot 32% from 3-point range, which is good for 286th in college basketball. They are 123rd in the nation in rebounding with 37.4 boards per game, and 155th in assists per contest with 14.3. The Fighting Illini are 75th in turnovers per game with 14.8. The Fighting Illini surrender 70.5 points per contest, which ranks them 135th in the country. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 200th and 99th in those defensive statistics. They rank 58th with 11.5 assists allowed per contest and 86th with 32.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Fighting Illini are 346th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 18.7 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Hawkeyes are 67th in the nation in offensive rating with 111.3, and their defensive rating of 103.4 is ranked 232nd. In terms of pace they are 90th in the country with 72.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 58th. As a team they are 75th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 223rd in Division 1. Iowa is 169th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 152nd in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Illinois is 147th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 22.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 143rd in Division 1. The Fighting Illini are 47th in the nation in defensive rating with 94.5, and their offensive rating of 105.8 is ranked 154th. They are 57th in D-1 in pace with 73.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 250th. As a unit they are 226th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 254th in the country.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Illinois -5

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