Northwestern vs Illinois Predictions, Picks, Tips, 1/18/2020

Game: Northwestern Wildcats vs Illinois Fighting Illini

Date: Saturday, January 18, 2020

Location: State Farm Center in Champaign, IL

TV: BTN

Odds/Point Spread: Illinois -12

Total/Over-Under: 133

The Northwestern Wildcats head to State Farm Center to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday, January 18, 2020. The opening line for this game has Illinois as 12 point favorites.

Northwestern comes into this game with an overall record of 6-10. They currently have a point differential of 0.2 as they are averaging 66.5 points per game while giving up 66.3 per contest. Illinois has an overall record of 12-5. They are averaging 75.9 points per game and surrendering 64.4, good for a point differential of 11.5.

Valuable Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats are 6-8-1 against the spread this season

The Northwestern Wildcats are 7-7-1 against the over/under this year

Important Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 8-7-1 against the spread this season

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 6-10-0 against the over/under this year

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

01/06/20 G Boo Buie Ankle is out indefinitely
01/06/20 G Anthony Gaines Shoulder is out for season

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Miller Kopp comes into this game averaging 12.9 points per contest while playing 31.1 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.9 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is 84%. Pat Spencer averages 10.4 points per contest in 27.3 minutes per game. He averages 3.9 assists per game and 3.5 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 76%.

Player Spotlight

Ayo Dosunmu scores 15.5 points per contest while playing 31.6 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.3 rebounds per contest and has 2.9 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 79%. Kofi Cockburn averages 14.8 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 26.5 minutes per game. He also brings in 9.5 rebounds per game and has 0.7 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 55% and his free throw percentage is 65%.

Useful Team Statistics

Northwestern averages 66.5 points per contest, which is 296th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 0.2 and their shooting percentage is 42% as a unit, which has them ranked 264th. From 3-point territory they shoot 31%, which is good for 274th in the nation. They average 34.9 boards per contest and 14.1 assists per game, which ranks them 218th and 116th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 331st with 11.1 per game. The Wildcats allow 66.3 points per contest, which is 109th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 41% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 134th and 127th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 36.1 rebounds a game which ranks 226th, and they allow 15.4 assists per game which puts them in 320th place in the country. They force 11.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 25th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Illinois is 81st in the nation with 75.9 points per contest this season. They are 70th in the country in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 11.5. They shoot 30% from beyond the arc, which is good for 304th in the NCAA. They are 10th in D-1 in rebounding with 41.6 boards per contest and 129th in assists per game with 14.1. The Fighting Illini are 171st in turnovers per contest with 13.6. The Fighting Illini give up 64.4 points per game, which ranks them 72nd in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 41% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 96th and 152nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 73rd with 11.2 dimes allowed per game and 32nd with 31.1 boards surrendered per contest. The Fighting Illini are 141st in the nation in forcing turnovers with 13.5 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Wildcats are 244th in the nation in offensive rating with 98.4. In terms of pace they are 289th in the country with 67.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 47% is 292nd. As a team they are 273rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 241st in Division 1. Northwestern is 309th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.6 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Illinois is 212th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.3 times per 100 possessions. The Fighting Illini are 57th in the country in offensive rating with 107.8. In terms of pace they are 185th in Division 1 with 69.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 162nd. As a team they are 139th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shots, ranking 325th in the nation.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Northwestern +12

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