Michigan State Spartans vs Illinois Fighting Illini Predictions, Expert College Basketball Picks 2/11/2020

Game: Michigan State Spartans vs Illinois Fighting Illini

Date: Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Location: State Farm Center in Champaign, IL

TV: ESPN, ESPN2

Odds/Point Spread: Illinois +1.5

Total/Over-Under: 138.5

The Michigan State Spartans head to State Farm Center to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Tuesday, February 11, 2020. The opening line for this game has MSU as 1.5 point favorites.

Michigan State comes into this game with an overall record of 16-8. They currently have a point differential of 12.2 as they are averaging 75.9 points per game while giving up 63.8 per contest. Illinois has an overall record of 16-7. They are averaging 73.8 points per game and surrendering 64.7, good for a point differential of 9.1.

Valuable Michigan State Spartans Betting Trends

The Michigan State Spartans are 11-13-0 against the spread this season

The Michigan State Spartans are 11-12-1 against the over/under this year

Important Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 11-10-1 against the spread this season

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 9-13-0 against the over/under this year

Key Michigan State Spartans Injuries

12/19/19 G Joshua Langford Foot is out for season
11/13/19 F Joey Hauser Eligibility is out for season
02/10/20 F Thomas Kithier Illness is questionable Tuesday vs Illinois
01/24/20 G Brock Washington Suspension is out indefinitely

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

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

Player Spotlight

Cassius Winston comes into this game averaging 18.6 points per contest while playing 32.1 minutes per night this year. He grabs 2.4 rebounds per contest and distributes 5.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is 87%. Xavier Tillman averages 13.4 points per contest in 32.0 minutes per game. He averages 3.1 assists per game and 10.2 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 52% for the season while his free throw percentage is 66%.

Player Spotlight

Ayo Dosunmu scores 15.8 points per contest while playing 32.6 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.1 rebounds per contest and has 3.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 79%. Kofi Cockburn averages 13.8 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 27.2 minutes per game. He also brings in 9.0 rebounds per game and has 0.7 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is 68%.

Useful Team Statistics

Michigan State averages 75.9 points per contest, which is 68th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 12.2 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 90th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 115th in the nation. They average 41.4 boards per contest and 18.1 assists per game, which ranks them 7th and 3rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 243rd with 12.5 per game. The Spartans allow 63.8 points per contest, which is 42nd in the NCAA. They also surrender a 38% shooting percentage and a 29% average from 3-point range, ranking them 7th and 10th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 33.1 rebounds a game which ranks 84th, and they allow 12.8 assists per game which puts them in 205th place in the country. They force 11.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 20th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Illinois is 109th in the nation with 73.8 points per contest this season. They are 93rd in the country in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 9.1. They shoot 32% from beyond the arc, which is good for 282nd in the NCAA. They are 15th in D-1 in rebounding with 40.3 boards per contest and 139th in assists per game with 13.6. The Fighting Illini are 222nd in turnovers per contest with 12.8. The Fighting Illini give up 64.7 points per game, which ranks them 61st in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 41% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 85th and 156th in those defensive statistics. They rank 58th with 11.0 dimes allowed per game and 27th with 31.1 boards surrendered per contest. The Fighting Illini are 67th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 12.0 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Spartans are 40th in the nation in offensive rating with 108.9. In terms of pace they are 169th in the country with 69.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 92nd. As a team they are 76th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 188th in Division 1. Michigan State is 257th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.5 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Illinois is 237th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.7 times per 100 possessions. The Fighting Illini are 67th in the country in offensive rating with 107.3. In terms of pace they are 241st in Division 1 with 68.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 181st. As a team they are 154th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 312th in the nation.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Michigan State -1.5

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