Nebraska at Illinois Expert NCAA Basketball Picks Against the Spread 2/2/2019

Saturday, February 2, 2019

State Farm Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers travel to State Farm Center to play the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday, February 2, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Nebraska as 4.5 point favorites.

Nebraska comes into this game with an overall record of 13-8. They currently have a point differential of 12.7 as they are averaging 75.1 points per game while giving up 62.5 per contest. Illinois has an overall record of 6-15. They are averaging 73.8 points per game and surrendering 75.4, good for a point differential of -1.6.

Valuable Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Trends

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 10-8-2 against the spread

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 8-12-0 against the over/under

Important Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 8-13-0 against the spread

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 11-9-1 against the over/under

Key Nebraska Cornhuskers Injuries

11/09/18 G Karrington Davis Achilles is out for season
01/26/19 F Isaac Copeland Jr. Knee is out for season

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

James Palmer comes into this contest averaging 19.1 points per game while playing 33.7 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 80%. Glynn Watson Jr. averages 13.0 points per game in 32.5 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.5 assists per contest and 4.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 92%.

Player Spotlight

Trent Frazier averages 14.8 points per game while playing 29.8 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 2.5 rebounds per game and has 2.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 75%. Ayo Dosunmu averages 13.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.3 rebounds per contest and 3.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 69%.

Useful Team Statistics

Nebraska averages 75.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 132nd in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 12.7 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 173rd. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 141st in the nation. They average 36.6 rebounds per game and 13.8 assists per game, which ranks them 128th and 161st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 342nd with 10.3 per game. The Cornhuskers allow 62.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 14th in the country. They also allow a 39% shooting percentage and a 29% average from behind the arc, ranking them 15th and 19th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 37.1 rebounds a game which ranks 281st and they give up 9.5 assists per contest, which puts them in 6th place in Division 1. They force 14.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 223rd in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Illinois is 168th in the country with 73.8 points per game this year. They are 255th in Division 1 in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is -1.6. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 187th in the nation. They are 310th in the NCAA in rebounding with 33.0 boards per game, and 154th in assists per contest with 13.9. The Fighting Illini are 133rd in turnovers per game with 13.7. The Fighting Illini surrender 75.4 points per contest, which ranks them 271st in D-1. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 325th and 252nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 164th with 13.0 assists allowed per contest and 236th with 36.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Fighting Illini are 334th in country in forcing turnovers with 17.1 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Cornhuskers have an offensive rating of 109.9, which is ranked 61st. They are 257th in college basketball in pace with 68.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 160th. As a unit they are 145th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 138th in D-1. Nebraska is 340th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Illinois is 171st in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.3 times per 100 possessions. The Fighting Illini are 235th in the country in offensive rating with 101.3. In terms of pace they are 71st in Division 1 with 72.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 242nd. As a team they are 265th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 157th in the nation.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Illinois +4.5

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