Illinois vs Michigan State Prediction 2/15/25 College Basketball Picks Today

The Michigan State Spartans and the Illinois Fighting Illini meet Saturday in college basketball action from the State Farm Arena. We will take a look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Illinois vs Michigan State Prediction.

Michigan State Recap

The Michigan State Spartans come into this game looking to bounce back from a 71-67 loss at the hands of Indiana in their last game to fall to 19-5 on the year. After this game, Michigan State will head home for a matchup with the Purdue Boilermakers.

Spartans Drop 3 Of Last 4

Jaden Akins leads the Spartans in scoring with 13.4 PPG along with 3.8 RPG while Jase Richardson’s posted 10.3 PPG with 2.7 RPG and 1.9 APG as the only other double-digit scorer for Michigan State so far this year. Frankie Fidler has 7.9 PPG and 3.6 RPG and Jaxon Kohler has 7.5 PPG with 7.8 RPG to lead the Spartans on the glass. Tre Holloman has 8.3 PPG with 3.9 RPG while Coen Carr has 8.1 PPG with 3.4 RPG and Jeremy Fears Jr. has dished out a team-high 6 APG as well on the year. As a team, Michigan State is averaging 79.3 PPG on 46.6% shooting from the field, 28.8% from three and 81% from the foul line this season.

Why the Michigan State Spartans will win

• Michigan State has won 11 of its last 13 night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Illinois has lost each of its last three games following a home win.

Illinois Recap

The Illinois Fighting Illini come into this game looking to add on to their 83-78 win over UCLA last time out to improve to 17-8 on the year. After this game, Illinois will head on the road for a game against the Wisconsin Badgers.

Fighting Illini Win Back-To-Back Games

Kasparas Jakucionis leads the Illini in scoring and assists with 16 PPG and 5.2 APG along with 5.6 RPG while Tomislav Ivisic has 13.1 PPG with a team-high 8.5 RPG to lead the Illini in rebounding up to this point in the year. Will Riley has 11.9 PPG with 3.8 RPG and Kylan Boswell has 11.5 PPG with 5.2 RPG and 3.4 APG to cap off the scoring in double figures for Illinois so far this season. Tre White also has 9.3 PPG with 5.3 RPG and Ben Humrichous has 8.6 PPG and 3.9 RPG as well on the year. Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn also has 7.3 PPG as well this season. As a team, Illinois is averaging 85.1 PPG on 45.1% shooting from the field, 31.6% from three and 75.9% from the foul line this season.

Why the Illinois Fighting Illini will win

• Illinois has won 17 of its last 18 night games at State Farm Center following a home win.
• Michigan State has lost four of its last five games at State Farm Center.

Total Points Facts

• Each of the last eight night games between Michigan State and Illinois have produced a total of 153 or fewer points.
• Thirty-two of Michigan State’s last 36 night games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 154 or fewer points.

Illinois vs Michigan State Prediction

I’m on Illinois in this one. Michigan State’s still a solid team, but the problem for Sparty right now is that this is a bad matchup for Michigan State. The Spartans are a mainly 2-point driven offense as they barely shoot threes and are heavily reliant on shots inside the arc. That’s not good against Illinois’ 5^th-best 2-point defense and that’s 5^th-best in the country. Illinois has a solid defense and an offense that can go off on any given opponent and I also think the Illini have the better scoring depth here. Give me Illinois at home here.