It may shock younger gamblers to discover that the Illinois Fighting Illini were once one of the most appealing teams with the NCAA Basketball Championship Odds. During the 1980’s then head coach Lou Henson led the Fighting Illini to their glory years and a 1989 berth in the Final Four. Lon Kruger and Bill Self followed Henson and maintained Illinois’ standard of excellence. Bruce Weber took Self’s players to the 2005 National Championship Game. It has been all downhill from there for the Illini however. Illinois hosts Michigan State on Monday night on FS1.
Michigan State Spartans vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
Date and Time: Monday, January 22, 2018, 9 p.m. Eastern
Location: State Farm Center, Champaign, Illinois
NCAA Basketball Odds at SBG:
Michigan State -11½ (-110) 144 (-110)
Illinois +11½ (-110) 144 (-110)
Spartans vs. Fighting Illini TV Coverage: FS1
Brad Underwood is the man tasked with getting Illinois back on track with the NCAA Basketball Championship Odds. Underwood led Stephen F. Austin to the Big Dance in all three of his seasons there as head coach. He then led Oklahoma State to the Big Dance last year in his only season at Stillwater. In Big Ten play Underwood is discovering the daunting task at hand. The Illini are 0-7 straight up in conference action. Illinois has an overall record of 10-10 straight up and 7-8-1 against the spread. The Illini have gone under the total in 11 out of 16 games. Illini has covered the spread in just two out of their last nine lined games. The Illini were slaughtered at Wisconsin 75-50 in their last game. Illinois has come away with the money in just two out of seven away games this year.
Michigan State
Michigan State is 17-3 straight up and 12-8 against the spread. The Spartans are an impressive 9-4 against the number at home. MSU has gone over the total in nine out of 12 home games. Head coach Tom Izzo leads one of the most impressively balanced teams in all of college basketball. The Spartans rank 16th in the nation for scoring offense and 20th for scoring defense. Michigan State has paid out in six out of their last nine games. The Spartans ran Indiana off the floor in an 85-57 home payout Thursday night. Miles Bridges led the Spartans with 22 points in the win. Nick Ward added 13 rebounds. Bridges is the leading scorer for MSU with 17 points per game.
Illinois
The Fighting Illini have had a surprising Sportsbook online betting advantage against the Spartans. Michigan State has covered the spread in just three out of their last 12 games against Illinois. The Spartans and Fighting Illini have gone under the total in seven out of their last ten head to head meetings. Illinois has grabbed the cash in four out of their last six home games against the Spartans. The Spartans and Illini have gone under the total in three out of their last five meetings at the State Farm Center.
Matchup to Watch
This is an undeniable mismatch with the NCAA Basketball Championship Odds and the linemaker knows it. Illinois will be getting extra points to try and entice betting action their way. The head to head record in this series shows the Illini have the ability to get the money in East Lansing.
Spartans vs. Fighting Illini NCAA Basketball Picks
The Fighting Illini and all of those extra points they will be getting is the selection.
NCAA Basketball Betting Pick: Illinois Fighting Illini +11
NCAA Basketball Betting Score Prediction: Spartans 81, Illini 72
Check out highlights of the Spartans win over Indiana