Illinois looks to cover the Fighting Illini-Spartans pointspread on Tuesday and improve its overall 15-6 mark when they host Michigan State in college basketball action.

The Fighting Illini bring a 15-6 record (8-11 ATS) to this tilt against the 17-4 Spartans, who are 13-6 ATS. OVER/UNDER bettors have witnessed Illinois go 10-9 so far and the Spartans go 10-7-2.



View Michigan State vs Illinois Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
On the Sportsbook NCAAB line for this matchup, Illinois sat as 3.5-point underdogs.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
According to new college basketball power rankings here, it's the No. 84-ranked Fighting Illini and the No. 1-rated Spartans in this matchup. Computer formulas aimed at predicting NCAAB scores point to a 82-73 win for the Spartans on Tuesday.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Illinois's No. 181 nationally ranked offense (67.9 points per game) against a Spartans defense that sits as the No. 32 at 60.2 PPG. The Fighting Illini have been averaging 45% from the field, less than the Spartans have managed so far this season (48.6% on average).

Defensively, Michigan State features the nation's No. 31-rated defense on the road, allowing 62.4 points per game. Illinois, meanwhile, comes in at No. 209 nationally in scoring at home.

Last time out for Michigan State, they were a 68-52 Sportsbook as they battled Minnesota at home. They covered in the match as a 9-point favorite. Draymond Green scored 22 points and added 14 rebounds for a double-double, leading Michigan State over Minnesota, 68-52, on Wednesday at Breslin Center.

Illinois lost its last outing, a 77-72 result against Minnesota on January 28. They failed to cover in that game as a 4.5-point underdog. Brandon Paul scored 28 points for Illinois on Saturday, but the Golden Gophers managed a 77-72 victory over the Fighting Illini at Williams Arena.


Michigan State Spartans Trends:
When playing on Tuesday are 7-1
Before playing Michigan are 6-4
After playing Minnesota are 8-2
After a win are 9-1

Illinois Fighting Illini Trends:
When playing on Tuesday are 4-2
Before playing Northwestern are 4-6
After playing Minnesota are 3-7
After a loss are 7-3

A few Spartans at Fighting Illini trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Michigan State's last 10 games when playing on the road against Illinois
Michigan State is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Michigan State is 6-12 SU in its last 18 games on the road
Michigan State is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Illinois
Illinois is 16-3 SU in its last 19 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Illinois's last 11 games when playing Michigan State
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Illinois's last 10 games when playing at home against Michigan State
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Illinois's last 5 games at home


Next up:
Michigan State home to Michigan, Sunday, February 5
Illinois home to Northwestern, Sunday, February 5