The Michigan State Spartans and Illinois Fighting Illini meet Friday in college basketball action at the State Farm Center. The Michigan State Spartans look for their 13th win. The Illinois Fighting Illini look for their 12th win.
The Michigan State Spartans are averaging 70.3 points on 44.6 percent shooting and allowing 64.9 points on 40.1 percent shooting. Tyson Walker is averaging 13.9 points and 3.1 assists, while Joey Hauser is averaging 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. AJ Hoggard is the third double-digit scorer and Malik Hall is grabbing 4.1 rebounds. The Michigan State Spartans are shooting 37.8 percent from beyond the arc and 75.6 percent from the free throw line. The Michigan State Spartans are allowing 29.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 34.1 rebounds per game.
The Illinois Fighting Illini are averaging 76.9 points on 46.1 percent shooting and allowing 63.8 points on 39.1 percent shooting. Terrence Shannon Jr. is averaging 18.1 points and 5.9 rebounds, while Coleman Hawkins is averaging 10.1 points and 6.1 rebounds. Matthew Mayer is the third double-digit scorer and Jayden Epps is grabbing 2 rebounds. The Illinois Fighting Illini are shooting 33.2 percent from beyond the arc and 66.2 percent from the free throw line. The Illinois Fighting Illini are allowing 32.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 36.6 rebounds per game.
The Spartans are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall. The Fighting Illini are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 home games. The under is 5-2 in Spartans last 7 overall. The under is 5-2 in Fighting Illini last 7 overall. The home team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
The Illinois Fighting Illini have the horses to blow the doors off here, but we’re getting a lot of points with a good and battle tested Michigan State side. Michigan State gets after it defensively, has held its own away from home, and loses in the underdog role by an average of just 2.4 points. Should be a battle. I want points in my back pocket.