Michigan State will be looking to finally pay out against Illinois again on Thursday night as those Big Ten teams renew hostilities at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center.
Illinois is 4-0-1 ATS over its past five games against Michigan State dating back to early 2010, and they've also won three of their past four meetings SU. The UNDER has paid out for totals bettors in each of the past three Illinois/Michigan State games.
The Fighting Illini will look to vanquish their hosts on Thursday, as they are 7-11 ATS versus the spread this season, while the Spartans are 8-10 ATS. Illinois is 7-10 against the total, while Michigan State is 8-9 versus the number.
View Illinois vs Michigan State Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
College basketball odds makers at Sportsbook opened the Michigan State Spartans as 9.5-point favorites in this matchup. Check for the latest spread and over-under at the sportsbook.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Odds Shark Power Rankings have the Spartans at No. 18 and the Fighting Illini at No. 63 heading into this contest. Handicapping models at Odds Shark project a 77-73 result in favor of the Spartans.
How They Match Up:
Scoring and defensive stats point to some edges in this matchup. The game features Michigan State's No. 129-ranked scoring average of 69.2 PPG, against a Fighting Illini defense rated No. 175 and allowing 66 PPG. The Spartans FG% has averaged 46.3% to date this season, more than the Fighting Illini shooters have managed so far (42.8% per game).
Comparing how these foes stack up statistically, Illinois owns the country's No. 129-rated mark, allowing 67.5 points per game on the highway. Michigan State, on the other hand, rates No. 124 in scoring at home.
Illinois was a 74-60 loser in its last match at home against Michigan. They failed to cover the 5.5-point spread as underdogs. Illinois got 15 points from Brandon Paul but lost anyway, 74-60, to Michigan on Sunday at University of Illinois Assembly Hall.
Michigan State was a 75-70 loser in its last match on the road against Indiana. They covered the 9.5-point spread as underdogs. Michigan State suffered a 75-70 loss against Indiana on Sunday, getting 21 points from Gary Harris in a losing effort at Branch McCracken Court at Assembly Hall.
Illinois Fighting Illini Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 5-2
Before playing Wisconsin are 4-6
After playing Michigan are 3-7
After a loss are 4-6
Michigan State Spartans Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 7-3
Before playing Minnesota are 8-2
After playing Indiana are 6-4
After a loss are 7-3
A few Fighting Illini at Spartans trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Illinois's last 5 games when playing on the road against Michigan State
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Illinois's last 5 games on the road
Illinois is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Illinois is 6-2-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Michigan State
Michigan State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Michigan State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Illinois
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Michigan State's last 5 games when playing at home against Illinois
Michigan State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Next up:
Illinois home to Wisconsin, Sunday, February 3
Michigan State home to Minnesota, Wednesday, February 6
