Illinois vs Northwestern Predictions, Free College Basketball Picks, Tips 2/27/2020

Game: Illinois Fighting Illini vs Northwestern Wildcats

Date: Thursday, February 27, 2020

Location: Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, IL

TV: BTN

Odds/Point Spread: Northwestern +4.5

Total/Over-Under: 132

The Illinois Fighting Illini head to Welsh-Ryan Arena to take on the Northwestern Wildcats on Thursday, February 27, 2020. The opening line for this game has Illinois as 4.5 point favorites.

Illinois comes into this game with an overall record of 18-9. They currently have a point differential of 7.9 as they are averaging 72.5 points per game while giving up 64.6 per contest. Northwestern has an overall mark of 6-20. They are averaging 64.6 points per contest and giving up 69.8, which is a point differential of -5.2.

Valuable Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 13-12-1 against the spread this season

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 10-16-0 against the over/under this year

Important Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats are 10-14-1 against the spread this season

The Northwestern Wildcats are 12-12-1 against the over/under this year

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

01/22/20 F Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk Leg is out indefinitely

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

01/06/20 G Anthony Gaines Shoulder is out for season

Player Spotlight

Ayo Dosunmu comes into this game averaging 16.2 points per contest while playing 32.9 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.2 assists per game. His FG percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage is 76%. Kofi Cockburn averages 13.6 points per contest in 27.3 minutes per game. He averages 0.6 assists per game and 9.0 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 52% for the season while his free throw percentage is 67%.

Player Spotlight

Miller Kopp scores 13.0 points per contest while playing 31.7 minutes per game. He hauls in 3.6 rebounds per contest and has 1.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 88%. Pat Spencer averages 10.3 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 29.0 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.7 rebounds per game and has 3.8 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 79%.

Useful Team Statistics

Illinois averages 72.5 points per contest, which is 137th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 7.9 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 160th. From 3-point territory they shoot 31%, which is good for 293rd in the nation. They average 40.4 boards per contest and 13.1 assists per game, which ranks them 11th and 181st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 234th with 12.6 per game. The Fighting Illini allow 64.6 points per contest, which is 52nd in the NCAA. They also surrender a 41% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 93rd and 169th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 31.6 rebounds a game which ranks 36th, and they allow 11.1 assists per game which puts them in 61st place in the country. They force 11.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 65th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Northwestern is 321st in the nation with 64.6 points per contest this season. They are 281st in the country in shooting at 42%, while their average scoring margin is -5.2. They shoot 31% from beyond the arc, which is good for 274th in the NCAA. They are 283rd in D-1 in rebounding with 33.2 boards per contest and 131st in assists per game with 13.7. The Wildcats are 344th in turnovers per contest with 10.5. The Wildcats give up 69.8 points per game, which ranks them 193rd in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 42% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 155th and 214th in those defensive statistics. They rank 334th with 15.9 dimes allowed per game and 296th with 37.5 boards surrendered per contest. The Wildcats are 11th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 10.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Fighting Illini have an offensive rating of 105.8, which is ranked 89th. They are 239th in college basketball in pace with 68.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 239th. As a unit they are 211th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shot attempts, ranking 311th in D-1. Illinois is 248th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.5 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Northwestern is 332nd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14 times per 100 possessions. The Wildcats have an offensive rating of 96.8, which is ranked 281st. They are 309th in D-1 in pace with 66.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 47% is 302nd. As a unit they are 308th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 50% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 252nd in the country.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Illinois -4.5

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