The Michigan State Spartans (12-4, 4-1 Big Ten) and Illinois Fighting Illini (11-5, 2-3) are lined up for a Friday night battle in Champaign. The opening tip at the State Farm Center will be at 9 p.m. ET (FS1). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Michigan State vs. Illinois odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Michigan State is 7-0 straight up (SU) and 6-1 against the spread (ATS) since Dec. 7. With a capable offense (75.5 points per game) and a good defense (70.2 PPG), the Spartans have leveraged a dip in their schedule. Friday’s game marks MSU’s 1st against a KenPom top-40 foe since Dec. 7.
In their last 4 games, the Illini are 3-1 SU and ATS. Also solid at both ends of the floor (76.9 PPG on offense, 63.8 PPG allowed), Illinois has been a lockdown 5 on its home floor. The Illini are 8-1 at home and have held teams under a 40% effective field-goal rate in 5 of those games.
Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+
Michigan State at Illinois odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:47 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Michigan State +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Illinois -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Michigan State +6.5 (-110) | Illinois -6.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 137.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Catch the excitement and bet with Tipico
Double Down, Ohio! Deposit $200, Get $250. Bet now!
In Colorado and New Jersey, claim your 100% Deposit Match up to $250 now. Bet now! 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions.
Michigan State at Illinois picks and predictions
Prediction
Illinois 70, Michigan State 67
Moneyline
Fast-paced Illinois likes to launch a lot of 3s. MSU has a strong — and getting better of late — perimeter defense. The Illini have a rebounding edge, but they also have a turnover problem, and iffy turnover rates were part of the equations in both recent losses (Dec. 22 vs. Missouri and Jan. 4 at Northwestern). Both those foes live in the same neighborhood as Michigan State in analytic measures like KenPom and BartTorvik.
There is solid value in the SPARTANS (+220). They may not be a predicted win, but their chances are better than the 31.25% odds implied by this price.
Against the spread
The Spartans are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games against winning teams. The Fighting Illini are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games against foes playing .600 basketball or better.
MSU plays a slow-down style but is highly efficient on offense. Past Illinois opponents that fit as comparable are Virginia (Nov. 20) and Penn State (Dec. 10). Illinois lost those 2 games SU and by a combined 36.5 points ATS.
Consider a mix of sides backing the Spartans on the ML and — with MICHIGAN STATE +6.5 (-110) — here against the number.
Over/Under
Indicators swing both ways around what looks like a fair number. PASS.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Want action on this basketball game or any other sports contest? Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, SportsbookWire’s official sportsbook partner in OH, CO and NJ. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin / College Football News
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1667]
