Iowa vs Illinois Predictions, College Basketball Picks Tonight 3/8/2020

Game: Iowa Hawkeyes vs Illinois Fighting Illini

Date: Sunday, March 8, 2020

Location: State Farm Center in Champaign, IL

TV: BTN

Odds/Point Spread: Illinois -3

Total/Over-Under: 144.5

The Iowa Hawkeyes travel to State Farm Center to play the Illinois Fighting Illini on Sunday, March 8, 2020. The opening line for this matchup has Illinois as 3 point favorites.

Iowa heads into this matchup with a mark of 20-10. They currently have a point differential of 5.7 as they are averaging 77.8 points per contest while giving up 72.1 per game. Illinois has an overall mark of 20-10. They are averaging 72.0 points per contest and giving up 64.9, which is a point differential of 7.1.

Valuable Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Trends

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 18-12-0 against the spread

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 12-17-1 against the over/under

Important Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 14-14-1 against the spread

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 12-16-1 against the over/under

Key Iowa Hawkeyes Injuries

12/16/19 G Jordan Bohannon Hip is out for season
12/06/19 F Patrick McCaffery Illness is out for season
11/25/19 F Jack Nunge ACL is out for season
03/07/20 F Cordell Pemsl Ankle left last game, is probable Sunday vs Illinois
03/07/20 F Ryan Kriener Undisclosed is probable Sunday vs Illinois

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

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

Player Spotlight

Luka Garza comes into this contest averaging 23.7 points per game while playing 31.7 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 9.9 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 49% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 65%. Joe Wieskamp averages 14.3 points per game in 32.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.5 assists per contest and 6.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 85%.

Player Spotlight

Ayo Dosunmu averages 16.6 points per game while playing 33.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 4.2 rebounds per game and has 3.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is at 77%. Kofi Cockburn averages 13.4 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 27.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 8.8 rebounds per contest and 0.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage is 68%.

Useful Team Statistics

Iowa averages 77.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 27th in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 5.7 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 119th. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 121st in the nation. They average 37.7 rebounds per game and 17.3 assists per game, which ranks them 71st and 6th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 264th with 12.1 per game. The Hawkeyes allow 72.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 255th in the country. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc, ranking them 172nd and 130th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.5 rebounds a game which ranks 210th and they give up 15.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 323rd place in Division 1. They force 12.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 126th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Illinois is 145th in the country with 72.0 points per game this year. They are 154th in Division 1 in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is 7.1. They shoot 31% from 3-point range, which is good for 289th in the nation. They are 19th in the NCAA in rebounding with 39.8 boards per game, and 183rd in assists per contest with 13.0. The Fighting Illini are 255th in turnovers per game with 12.3. The Fighting Illini surrender 64.9 points per contest, which ranks them 53rd in D-1. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 84th and 164th in those defensive statistics. They rank 61st with 11.1 assists allowed per contest and 51st with 32.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Fighting Illini are 49th in country in forcing turnovers with 11.6 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Hawkeyes have an offensive rating of 109.8, which is ranked 27th. They are 92nd in college basketball in pace with 70.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 109th. As a unit they are 85th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 166th in D-1. Iowa is 298th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.7 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Illinois is 261st in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.3 times per 100 possessions. The Fighting Illini are 85th in the country in offensive rating with 106. In terms of pace they are 261st in Division 1 with 67.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 234th. As a team they are 204th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shots, ranking 308th in the nation.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Illinois -3

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