Iowa Hawkeyes vs Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction, 3/13/2021 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Iowa Hawkeyes vs Illinois Fighting Illini

Date: Saturday, March 13, 2021

Location: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN

TV: CBS

Odds/Point Spread: Iowa (+2.5)

The Iowa Hawkeyes (21-7) go to Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday where they'll take on the Illinois Fighting Illini (21-6). Illinois opens this contest as 2.5-point favorites. The total opens at 158.5.

Iowa enters this one with a record of 21-7 for the campaign. They are losing possession via turnover 9.4 times per contest and as a group they are committing 14.8 personal fouls per contest. As a unit, Iowa is collecting 40.3 boards per game and has accounted for 536 assists so far this year, which ranks 2nd in the country in terms of passing. The Hawkeyes are shooting 38.8% on 3-point shots (275 of 709) and 71.1% from the charity stripe. They have an average of 84.2 points per contest (4th in college hoops) while connecting on 47.2% from the floor. On defense, the Hawkeyes are able to force 11.8 turnovers per game while drawing 18.8 fouls. They currently rank 343rd in college basketball in giving up assists with 440 surrendered for the season. The Hawkeyes defensively are giving up an opponent shooting percentage of 41.2% (740 of 1,798) and they surrender 36.9 boards per game as a group. They surrender 35.1% from 3-point land and they rank 212th in D-1 in PPG allowed (71.6).

The Iowa Hawkeyes played the Wisconsin Badgers and earned the victory with a final of 62-57 in their last game. Iowa wrapped up the contest having earned a 40.6% field goal percentage (26 of 64) and converted 2 of their 20 3-point attempts. From the free throw line, the Hawkeyes made 8 of their 10 shots for a rate of 80.0%. With respect to rebounding, they collected a total of 35 with 12 of them being offensive. They also distributed 18 assists in this contest as well as forcing 12 turnovers and getting 6 steals. With respect to the defense, Iowa allowed 38.6% from the floor on 22 out of 57 shooting. Wisconsin recorded 11 assists and had 3 steals for this game. Additionally, Wisconsin collected 33 rebounds (8 offensive, 25 defensive) and added 4 blocked shots. Wisconsin shot 100.0% at the charity stripe by making 6 of 6 tries. They converted 7 out of their 17 attempts from beyond the perimeter.

Luka Garza is one guy who was a major contributor in the game. He notched 24 points on 10 of 15 shooting. He was on the court for 38 mins played and snagged 9 rebounds. Garza finished the contest at 66.7% from the floor and dished out 3 dimes. Someone else that was a major factor in this matchup for the Hawkeyes was Jordan Bohannon. He snagged 1 rebound in his 30 min on the hardwood. He ended up going 33.3% from the field in this contest via 3-of-9 (11 points). Overall, Bohannon had 3 assists.

Illinois has a win-loss mark of 21-6 on the season. On the offensive side of the court, the Fighting Illini are connecting on 50.1% from the floor, which is 15th in the nation. Illinois has earned 2,188 points on the season (81.0 per contest) and they average 40.3 rebounds per contest. They are getting an assist 16.1 times per game (29th in the country) and they cough up possession 13.5 times per contest. The Fighting Illini commit 17.9 fouls per contest and they go 68.6% from the charity stripe. The Fighting Illini defensively are ranked 121st in Division 1 in points allowed per game with 68.5. They surrender 10.8 assists and 29.9 boards per contest, which is 38th and 14th in college hoops. The Illinois defense gives up 32.7% on 3-point shots (174 of 532) and their opponents are converting on 68.0% of their foul shots. They have forced 11.7 turnovers per game and have let teams shoot 41.1% from the floor (61st in the nation).

When they last played, the Illinois Fighting Illini walked away with a victory by a final of 90-68 against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The Fighting Illini corralled 25 defensive boards and 16 offensive boards totaling 41 for this contest. They gave up possession 14 times, while getting 8 steals in the game. The Scarlet Knights had 24 personal fouls for the matchup which took the Fighting Illini to the charity stripe for a total of 31 attempts. They were able to make 21 of them for a percentage of 67.7%. In reference to shots from distance, Illinois converted 5 of their 17 tries (29.4%). When this game wrapped up, the Fighting Illini went 32 out of 61 from the field which had them shooting 52.5%. The Fighting Illini permitted the Scarlet Knights to make 25 out of 54 tries from the field which had them shooting 46.3% in this contest. They finished 18.2% from three-point range by hitting 2 out of 11 and walked away from this one shooting 16 out of 22 at the free throw line (72.7%). In reference to rebounding, Illinois permitted Rutgers to pull down 18 overall (2 on the offensive glass).

Ayo Dosunmu was important for the Fighting Illini for the game. He converted 8 out of 11 in this contest giving him a rate of 72.7%, and tallied 5 rebounds. Dosunmu totaled 23 points in his 32 mins on the court and added 6 assists for this contest. An additional guy that played a role for Illinois was Kofi Cockburn. He ended up finishing with no assists in his 27 mins on the hardwood, and he put in 6 of 10 from the floor. Cockburn wrapped this one up going 60.0% from the floor as well as contributing 18 points and 12 rebounds.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Illinois (-2.5)

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