The Michigan State Spartans and the Illinois Fighting Illini will cross paths for the second time this season on Tuesday, when Tom Izzo and his boys travel to Champaign. Will the Spartans double down on their mastery of Illinois this season? Or will the Fighting Illini score a win against a ranked team and Big Ten rival?
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Betting Preview for the Michigan State Spartans vs Illinois Fighting Illini NCAA College Basketball Game on February 11 2020
Where: State Farm Center, Champaign
When: Tuesday, February 11, 2020, 9:00 PM ET
Line: Michigan State Spartans (Odds) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (Odds) – view all 2019-20 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Michigan State Spartans (16-5 Overall / 8-5 Conference)
The Spartans are on a tailspin this late in the regular season. After losing a close one to the Wisconsin Badgers (64-63) in Madison on Feb.1, the Spartans absorbed a 75-70 defeat at the hands of the Penn State Nittany Lions at home on Feb. 4. Then they were upset in Ann Arbor by Juwan Howard’s Michigan Wolverines last Saturday. Michigan State’s offense sputtered against Michigan, as the Spartans shot just 33.3 percent from the field and only 6 of 23 from behind the arc. The Spartans are not usually that bad on offense. They are 40th in the nation with 75.9 points per game and possess a 45.3 field goal shooting percentage. They can regain their footing against Illinois, whom the Spartans have beaten at home back in January. The Spartans beat Illinois at home, 76-56, with Cassius Winston showing the way for them with an all-around effort of 21 points six assists and four rebounds.
The Spartans are 3-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last four games against Illinois.
Betting on the Illinois Fighting Illini (16-7 Overall / 8-4 Conference)
Like the Spartans, the Fighting Illini are also looking to turn things around following two losses in a row, the latest being a 75-66 defeat at the hands of the No. 9 Maryland Terrapins at home last Friday. The Fighting Illini actually looked like they were headed to an easy win, but that was until Maryland switched things up on defense and shifted to a zone defense Illinois had a hard time breaking down. The Fighting Illini ended up shooting only 36.1 percent from the field while also committing 11 turnovers. Turnovers are a thorn in the side of Illinois this season. The team is averaging 12.7 turnovers per game and has a 15.8 percentage on turnovers per play. The Fighting Illini need to recover their shooting touch in the rematch with Michigan State, which held them to only 29.3 field goal percentage last month. Illinois big man Kofi Cockburn was slowed down by foul trouble in the loss to Michigan State, resulting in a paltry five-point production. If he can keep his fouls in check, Illinois should fare much better this time around. Kofi is averaging 13.8 points and 9.0 rebounds this season.
The over is 2-1 in the Fighting Illini’s last three games.
Writer’s Prediction
Michigan State wins, 73-70.
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