The Michigan State Spartans (12-4, 4-1 Big Ten) and Illinois Fighting Illini (11-5, 2-3) are lined up for a Friday night battle in Champaign. The opening tip at the State Farm Center will be at 9 p.m. ET (FS1). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Michigan State vs. Illinois odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Michigan State is 7-0 straight up (SU) and 6-1 against the spread (ATS) since Dec. 7. With a capable offense (75.5 points per game) and a good defense (70.2 PPG), the Spartans have leveraged a dip in their schedule. Friday’s game marks MSU’s 1st against a KenPom top-40 foe since Dec. 7.
In their last 4 games, the Illini are 3-1 SU and ATS. Also solid at both ends of the floor (76.9 PPG on offense, 63.8 PPG allowed), Illinois has been a lockdown 5 on its home floor. The Illini are 8-1 at home and have held teams under a 40% effective field-goal rate in 5 of those games.
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