Illinois at Northwestern College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/6/2019

Sunday, January 6, 2019

Welsh-Ryan Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Illinois Fighting Illini travel to Welsh-Ryan Arena to play the Northwestern Wildcats on Sunday, January 6, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Northwestern as 8 point favorites.

Illinois comes into this game with an overall record of 4-10. They currently have a point differential of -0.9 as they are averaging 73.9 points per game while giving up 74.9 per contest. Northwestern has an overall mark of 9-5. They are averaging 72.2 points per contest and giving up 63.0, which is a point differential of 9.2.

Valuable Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 5-9-0 against the spread

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 7-7-0 against the over/under

Important Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats are 9-5-0 against the spread

The Northwestern Wildcats are 5-8-1 against the over/under

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

12/01/18 G Tevian Jones Suspension is out indefinitely

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Trent Frazier comes into this contest averaging 15.5 points per game while playing 29.8 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 2.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 74%. Ayo Dosunmu averages 12.5 points per game in 29.0 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.9 assists per contest and 4.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 42% for the year while his free throw percentage is 63%.

Player Spotlight

Vic Law averages 17.9 points per game while playing 32.6 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.0 rebounds per game and has 2.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 82%. Dererk Pardon averages 14.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 8.4 rebounds per contest and 2.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 62% and his free throw percentage is 63%.

Useful Team Statistics

Illinois averages 73.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 188th in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is -0.9 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a team, which has them ranked 271st. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 125th in the nation. They average 34.0 rebounds per game and 14.5 assists per game, which ranks them 282nd and 127th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 86th with 14.6 per game. The Fighting Illini allow 74.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 252nd in the country. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 301st and 168th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 37.6 rebounds a game which ranks 283rd and they give up 11.9 assists per contest, which puts them in 104th place in Division 1. They force 17.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 340th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Northwestern is 228th in the country with 72.2 points per game this year. They are 242nd in Division 1 in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 9.2. They shoot 33% from 3-point range, which is good for 218th in the nation. They are 274th in the NCAA in rebounding with 34.3 boards per game, and 49th in assists per contest with 16.1. The Wildcats are 310th in turnovers per game with 11.5. The Wildcats surrender 63.0 points per contest, which ranks them 27th in D-1. Their defense allows a 43% shooting percentage and a 29% average from 3-point range, ranking them 144th and 26th in those defensive statistics. They rank 186th with 13.2 assists allowed per contest and 90th with 33.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wildcats are 214th in country in forcing turnovers with 14.4 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Fighting Illini have an offensive rating of 100.5, which is ranked 251st. They are 85th in college basketball in pace with 72.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 238th. As a unit they are 264th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shot attempts, ranking 110th in D-1. Illinois is 118th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.2 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Northwestern is 292nd in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.6 times per 100 possessions. The Wildcats are 154th in the country in offensive rating with 105.5. In terms of pace they are 294th in Division 1 with 67.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 235th. As a team they are 211th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shots, ranking 140th in the nation.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Northwestern -8

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