Illinois vs Michigan State NCAA Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/2/2020

Game: Illinois Fighting Illini vs Michigan State Spartans

Date: Thursday, January 2, 2020

Location: Breslin Center in East Lansing, MI

TV: FS1

Odds/Point Spread: Michigan State -5.5

Total/Over-Under: 138

The Illinois Fighting Illini travel to Breslin Center to play the Michigan State Spartans on Thursday, January 2, 2020. The opening line for this matchup has Michigan State as 5.5 point favorites.

Illinois heads into this matchup with a mark of 9-4. They currently have a point differential of 14.2 as they are averaging 80.5 points per contest while giving up 66.2 per game. Michigan State has an overall record of 10-3. They are averaging 81.8 points per game and surrendering 64.3, good for a point differential of 17.5.

Valuable Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 6-5-1 against the spread

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 5-7-0 against the over/under

Important Michigan State Spartans Betting Trends

The Michigan State Spartans are 5-8-0 against the spread

The Michigan State Spartans are 8-5-0 against the over/under

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Michigan State Spartans Injuries

12/29/19 G Cassius Winston Knee is questionable
12/19/19 G Joshua Langford Foot is out for season
11/13/19 F Joey Hauser Eligibility is out for season

Player Spotlight

Kofi Cockburn comes into this contest averaging 16.0 points per game while playing 26.7 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 9.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 0.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 67%. Ayo Dosunmu averages 15.6 points per game in 31.1 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.0 assists per contest and 3.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 77%.

Player Spotlight

Cassius Winston averages 17.6 points per game while playing 31.1 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 2.0 rebounds per game and has 6.0 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 86%. Xavier Tillman averages 13.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 9.9 rebounds per contest and 2.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 56% and his free throw percentage is 64%.

Useful Team Statistics

Illinois averages 80.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 31st in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 14.2 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a team, which has them ranked 18th. Behind the arc they shoot 32% which is good for 238th in the nation. They average 41.2 rebounds per game and 14.8 assists per game, which ranks them 24th and 89th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 64th with 15.1 per game. The Fighting Illini allow 66.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 127th in the country. They also allow a 42% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 171st and 213th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 28.7 rebounds a game which ranks 4th and they give up 11.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 110th place in Division 1. They force 14.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 199th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Michigan State is 18th in the country with 81.8 points per game this year. They are 56th in Division 1 in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 17.5. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 135th in the nation. They are 3rd in the NCAA in rebounding with 43.4 boards per game, and 1st in assists per contest with 20.0. The Spartans are 250th in turnovers per game with 12.7. The Spartans surrender 64.3 points per contest, which ranks them 80th in D-1. Their defense allows a 38% shooting percentage and a 30% average from 3-point range, ranking them 20th and 79th in those defensive statistics. They rank 201st with 12.8 assists allowed per contest and 47th with 31.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Spartans are 83rd in country in forcing turnovers with 12.8 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Fighting Illini have an offensive rating of 111.5, which is ranked 28th. They are 120th in college basketball in pace with 71.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 68th. As a unit they are 39th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shot attempts, ranking 329th in D-1. Illinois is 117th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.7 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Michigan State is 288th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions. The Spartans have an offensive rating of 113.7, which is ranked 9th. They are 109th in D-1 in pace with 71.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 66th. As a unit they are 36th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 162nd in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Michigan State -5.5

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