Published Feb 7, 12:49am ET by
Keith McCarthy - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Feb 7, 12:49am ET
A key Big-10 matchup takes place in this game between #5 Illinois and #10 Michigan State. They've been headed in different directions, but the Spartans will look to bounce back at home in this game.
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| Michigan State Spartans | -115 |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | -105 |
Illinois added a road victory against #5 Nebraska to an already impressive résumé last week. The Fighting Illini have also earned ranked road wins over Purdue and Iowa during their 12-game winning streak. They'll look to continue rolling in yet another road ranked test against Michigan State. The Fighting Illini are projected to receive a 2-seed in the latest Bracketology projections, and could close in on a top seed with a win.
Michigan State doubled their total losses on the season in the last two games. A disappointing result at home against rival Michigan was followed by a complete letdown against an under .500 team in Minnesota. The Spartans will be hoping they can bounce back in what is now a crucial matchup against Illinois. They're at no risk of missing the tournament, but another defeat could send Michigan State further down a losing path.
It's a bit surprising to see this game rated as essentially a toss-up on the betting line. It's true that Illinois faces an increased challenge on the road, but they've already proven that playing in hostile environments against ranked teams doesn't phase them. Meanwhile, Michigan State looked a step behind Michigan in their last game against a top-5 team and made things worse by losing to Minnesota. Take Illinois to win this one.
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Pick
Illinois Fighting Illini (-105)
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