Michigan vs Illinois College Basketball Predictions and Odds Jan 14
Michigan vs Illinois Betting Preview
SportsMemo college basketball capper JM Sports offers his Michigan vs Illinois betting preview for Friday, January 14. At the time of posting, the Fighting Illini have opened as a 9.5-point home favorite over the road Wolverines, with the total sitting at 144 points.
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| Friday, January 14 | Big Ten Basketball Betting Notes |
|---|---|
| Point Spread: | Michigan Wolverines +9.5 vs Illinois Fighting Illini |
| Total: | 144 Points |
| Game Time: | 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT |
| Arena: | State Farm Center in Champaign, IL |
| TV: | FS1 |
Michigan vs Illinois Analysis
Michigan comes into this game looking like they may potentially be short-handed for this conference match-up between two of the top teams in the Big Ten. Michigan has four players, Frankie Collins, Zeb Jackson, Terrance Williams, and Brandon Johns Jr. who are all listed as questionable for undisclosed reasons going into Fridays game against Illinois. Unfortunately for them, they could use the extra help against the best offense that they have seen all season in Illinois. Michigan is 4-8 against the spread on the year, including just 2-3 on the road, with just a 2-3 record in the last five games overall.
Michigan Makes Most of Defense
While Michigan has struggled in the last couple games, especially against the spread, they have still put up some solid statistics, but the #12 hardest schedule has proven too tough at some moments in the season. Michigan is #24 in offensive efficiency on the year and the defense comes in at #46, they are holding opponents under 29% from beyond the are (#53), while being #31 in steal percentage and #30 in average height. They will take on the best offense that they have seen this year, in Illinois, and while Michigan has a top-50 defense, they have struggled against top caliber teams. This may be the best offense, but it is actually the 7th they have seen already that is ranked in the top-100. In those six other games, Michigan is just 1-5, including 5 straight losses by an average of 13 PPG! On the flip side, Illinois holds the 3rd best defense that Michigan has seen, but they haven’t had much better luck against top-100 defenses, in comparison to the offenses. In seven games against top-100 defenses, Michigan is 1-6 in those seven games, losing by an average of almost 8.5 PPG.
Illinois Covering and Winning
Illinois on the other hand has continued an impressive trend this season, they are 9-5 against the spread, including 6-3 at home, but they have cashed in on seven of their last nine games overall. This Illinois team is 14-5 straight up at home vs. Michigan dating back to 1997, holding a definitive advantage over Michigan in the last 25 years. Yet, it isn’t just Michigan, Illinois is 20-8 against the spread against Big Ten opponents in the last two years. When you look at just the last five games for Illinois, things are pretty impressive, they are 5-0 straight up (4-1 against the spread), averaging 85.4 PPG and allowing just 59.8 PPG to the opposition (+25.6 PPG diff.). They are shooting over 50% in the five game stretch, and allowing under 38% shooting on the other side, on top of out-rebounding their opponents by almost 17 boards per game.
Michigan vs Illinois Prediction
The one big advantage that Illinois has had is showing up in the big games at the big moments. Illinois holds the #10 offense in the country, based on efficiency rankings, and the #29 defense. They are the #1 team in the country in offensive rebound percentage, #14 in 3PT% and #7 defending 2PT shots. Michigan isn’t a game to overlook for this Illinois team though, we all know what they are capable of, they hold the 3rd best offense this Illinois team has played, and the 4th best defense, but Illinois has proven more then once, that they can take on top-100 talent. In six games against offensives units in the top-100, Illinois is 4-2, including winning four of the last five, winning by 9 PPG on average in the last five. Against top-100 defenses, Illinois is 5-3, but they have won five out of their last six, in those previous 6 games they are putting up almost 79 PPG against the best of the best on defense and winning by an average of 14 PPG!
Pick: Illinois (-9.5) With the way Illinois has played against top talent, and the lack of production from Michigan in the recent games against the spread, I am going to take Illinois minus the points.
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Michigan vs Illinois Preview from GoldSheet
NCAAB Stat Sheet
Each day, WagerTalk handicapper Ralph Michaels puts together his College Basketball Stat Sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Check out Friday’s sheet, with notes on tonight’s Michigan vs Illinois contest.
Happy Hour Tip-Off Show
Get your daily fix of college hoops betting information with Joe Raineri and a rotating panel of handicapping guests. The Happy Hour Tip-Off Show will broadcast Monday through Friday at 1:45pm ET / 10:45am PT. Pull up a barstool and join us as we break down tonight’s college basketball card, including this Michigan vs Illinois clash, from a sports betting perspective.
WagerTalk Live Odds Screen
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