Penn State at Illinois College Basketball Game Picks 2/23/2019

Saturday, February 23, 2019

State Farm Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Penn State Nittany Lions head to State Farm Center to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday, February 23, 2019. The opening line for this game has Illinois as 2.5 point favorites.

Penn State comes into this game with an overall record of 10-16. They currently have a point differential of 0.0 as they are averaging 69.3 points per game while giving up 69.2 per contest. Illinois has an overall record of 10-16. They are averaging 73.8 points per game and surrendering 74.4, good for a point differential of -0.6.

Valuable Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 12-14-0 against the spread this season

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 11-15-0 against the over/under this year

Important Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 12-14-0 against the spread this season

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 13-12-1 against the over/under this year

Key Penn State Nittany Lions Injuries

12/14/18 F Satchel Pierce Academics is out for season

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Lamar Stevens comes into this game averaging 19.5 points per contest while playing 36.4 minutes per night this year. He grabs 8.0 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.2 assists per game. His FG percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is 78%. Rasir Bolton averages 12.5 points per contest in 27.1 minutes per game. He averages 1.6 assists per game and 1.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 40% for the season while his free throw percentage is 87%.

Player Spotlight

Trent Frazier scores 14.4 points per contest while playing 30.0 minutes per game. He hauls in 2.5 rebounds per contest and has 2.7 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 71%. Ayo Dosunmu averages 14.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 31.1 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.1 rebounds per game and has 3.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 70%.

Useful Team Statistics

Penn State averages 69.3 points per contest, which is 272nd in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 0.0 and their shooting percentage is 42% as a unit, which has them ranked 305th. From 3-point territory they shoot 32%, which is good for 293rd in the nation. They average 36.1 boards per contest and 12.1 assists per game, which ranks them 143rd and 275th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 242nd with 12.5 per game. The Nittany Lions allow 69.2 points per contest, which is 124th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 265th and 322nd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 34.2 rebounds a game which ranks 145th, and they allow 12.2 assists per game which puts them in 104th place in the country. They force 13.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 224th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Illinois is 153rd in the nation with 73.8 points per contest this season. They are 237th in the country in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is -0.6. They shoot 34% from beyond the arc, which is good for 181st in the NCAA. They are 295th in D-1 in rebounding with 33.1 boards per contest and 175th in assists per game with 13.5. The Fighting Illini are 144th in turnovers per contest with 13.4. The Fighting Illini give up 74.4 points per game, which ranks them 251st in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 46% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 301st and 129th in those defensive statistics. They rank 159th with 12.9 dimes allowed per game and 278th with 36.7 boards surrendered per contest. The Fighting Illini are 337th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 16.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Nittany Lions have an offensive rating of 100.7, which is ranked 252nd. They are 252nd in college basketball in pace with 68.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 48% is 307th. As a unit they are 314th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 202nd in D-1. Penn State is 245th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.5 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Illinois is 189th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.1 times per 100 possessions. The Fighting Illini are 227th in the country in offensive rating with 101.7. In terms of pace they are 69th in Division 1 with 71.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 239th. As a team they are 264th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 176th in the nation.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Penn State +2.5

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