Free NCAA Hoops Pick: Spartans vs. Fighting Illini CBB Odds
Looking for Michigan State Spartans vs. Illinois Fighting Illini NCAA basketball free picks & CBB odds? CBB betting sees the Spartans taking on the Fighting Illini on Friday, January 13th Lawlor Events Center Reno. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all college basketball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NCAA basketball predictions like this Spartans Fighting Illini matchup.
2023 NCAA Basketball Handicapping: Spartans vs. Illinois
- (12-4) Michigan State Spartans vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (11-5)
- Date: Friday January 13th
- Time: 9 ET
- Venue: State Farm Center, Champaign
- CBB Moneyline Odds: Spartans +160 | Fighting Illini -200
- NCAAB Betting ATS Odds: Michigan State +9.5 | Illinois -9.5 (Bet Now!)
- CBB Betting Total: O/U 136.5
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- Scroll down for our Michigan State Illinois free pick
Michigan State Spartans
Nevertheless, it hasn’t always been pretty, but Michigan State currently sits at 12-4 overall and 4-1 in conference play entering this road matchup.
For one thing, the Spartans earned another big road victory in Madison against the Wisconsin Badgers earlier this week, giving MSU seven straight wins.
In fact, Michigan State scored the first six points of the game and trailed entering the final five minutes before rallying.
Still, Joey Hauser led the Spartans with 20 points as MSU outscored the Badgers 15-6 in the final minutes.
A Good Road Win
Meanwhile, Michigan State may have turned in its best offensive performance of the season efficiency wise in the win over the Badgers. For this reason, in a game that featured two slow paced teams with good defenses, the Spartans managed to shoot over 50 percent from the field as well as 7 of 13 from downtown.
Also, the Spartans average 70 points per game and are 72nd in scoring defense. So far, one of Michigan State’s biggest strengths is the deep ball, shooting 37.8 percent as a team.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois picked up its fourth win in its last six games on the road against Nebraska in its last contest. Illinois got a quick run early and led from midway through the first half on in a 76-50 win.
Defense Wins Championships
Without a doubt, Illinois did a tremendous job of defending against the Huskers. Nebraska was held to just 20-54 from the field, and it wasn’t the first outstanding performance of the year for the Illinois defense.
On a positive note, Illinois is seventh in the country in 2-point defense and 26th in total defensive efficiency. Also, offensively, Texas Tech transfer Terrence Shannon Jr. leads the team with an average of 18.1 points plus 5.9 rebounds per contest and 3.3 assists per game this season.
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Michigan State Spartans vs. Illinois Fighting Illini CBB Betting Trends
- What’s more, Fighting Illini are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 home games.
- Additionally, Fighting Illini are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
Free Michigan State Spartans vs Illinois Fighting Illini NCAAB Prediction:
Michigan State has been a roll of late both overall and against the spread, but this line favors Illinois for a reason.
On the whole, Illinois is the best team that Michigan State has faced on the road this season, and it is very difficult to string together a streak of victories on the road in the always tough Big Ten.
Slugfest
To conclude, this game is going to be a slugfest between two teams that rebound and defend effectively, but the difference in this game may be Illinois having the better defense and, in my opinion, the better offense as well.
All in all, I have to give the advantage to the team I think is better and has the home court advantage, and that’s Illinois.
Free Michigan State Spartans vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Pick: Illinois -4.5
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