Illinois at Ohio State Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 2/14/2019

Thursday, February 14, 2019
Value City Arena
Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.
The Illinois Fighting Illini head to Value City Arena to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes on Thursday, February 14, 2019. The opening line for this game has Ohio State as 9.5 point favorites.
Illinois heads into this matchup with a mark of 9-15. They currently have a point differential of -0.7 as they are averaging 74.9 points per contest while giving up 75.6 per game. Ohio State has an overall record of 16-7. They are averaging 72.4 points per game and surrendering 64.8, good for a point differential of 7.7.
Valuable Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends
The Illinois Fighting Illini are 10-14-0 against the spread this season
The Illinois Fighting Illini are 13-10-1 against the over/under this year
Important Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Trends
The Ohio State Buckeyes are 10-13-0 against the spread this season
The Ohio State Buckeyes are 11-11-1 against the over/under this year
Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries
No key injuries to report
Key Ohio State Buckeyes Injuries
11/07/18 C Micah Potter Transferred is out for season
Player Spotlight
Trent Frazier comes into this game averaging 14.7 points per contest while playing 29.9 minutes per night this year. He grabs 2.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.7 assists per game. His FG percentage is 53% while his free throw percentage is 72%. Ayo Dosunmu averages 14.1 points per contest in 31.0 minutes per game. He averages 3.2 assists per game and 4.2 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% for the season while his free throw percentage is 71%.
Player Spotlight
Kaleb Wesson scores 14.7 points per contest while playing 24.9 minutes per game. He hauls in 6.4 rebounds per contest and has 1.8 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage is at 73%. C.J. Jackson averages 12.8 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 30.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.3 rebounds per game and has 3.6 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 80%.
Useful Team Statistics
Illinois averages 74.9 points per contest, which is 127th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is -0.7 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 227th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 171st in the nation. They average 33.1 boards per contest and 13.8 assists per game, which ranks them 299th and 149th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 143rd with 13.5 per game. The Fighting Illini allow 75.6 points per contest, which is 274th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 322nd and 168th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 36.7 rebounds a game which ranks 270th, and they allow 13.3 assists per game which puts them in 191st place in the country. They force 17.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 338th in Division 1.
Useful Team Statistics
Ohio State is 192nd in the nation with 72.4 points per contest this season. They are 105th in the country in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 7.7. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 71st in the NCAA. They are 225th in D-1 in rebounding with 34.7 boards per contest and 116th in assists per game with 14.3. The Buckeyes are 204th in turnovers per contest with 13.0. The Buckeyes give up 64.8 points per game, which ranks them 33rd in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 41% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 47th and 101st in those defensive statistics. They rank 31st with 10.8 dimes allowed per game and 60th with 32.4 boards surrendered per contest. The Buckeyes are 149th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 13.1 per contest this year.
Advanced Statistics
The Fighting Illini have an offensive rating of 102.5, which is ranked 203rd. They are 62nd in college basketball in pace with 72.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 222nd. As a unit they are 247th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 169th in D-1. Illinois is 197th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16 times per 100 possessions.
Advanced Statistics
Ohio State is 126th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.8 times per 100 possessions. The Buckeyes have an offensive rating of 107.6, which is ranked 90th. They are 287th in D-1 in pace with 67.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 92nd. As a unit they are 74th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 141st in the country.
Who will win tonight's Illinois/Ohio State college basketball game against the spread?
Guy's Pick: Take Illinois +9.5
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