The annual Braggin’ Rights Game is on as the Illinois Fighting Illini and Missouri Tigers converge on St. Louis, Missouri. The game will tip off at 9:00 p.m. ET Thursday from the Enterprise Center, although weather may bring into question if either team can get there due to blustery conditions sweeping across the United States.
The Fighting Illini (8-3) have suggested some chemistry issues throughout what appears to be a solid 8-3 start. Coach Brad Underwood has hinted at no leaders in the locker room, and Baylor transfer Matthew Mayer has said he has had disagreements with his coach. Still, Illinois is a solid team on the court.
Meanwhile, Missouri (10-1) got off to a great start in the Dennis Gates era. The Tigers suffered a blowout loss at Kansas in a rivalry game but have otherwise been solid.
Illinois is favored by six points with an over/under of 152.5 points. The Fighting Illini are -275 on the moneyline, while the Tigers are +230.
Illini look to get right
Illinois has lost two of its last four games, both Big Ten Conference losses at Maryland and at home against Penn State. Those are two teams the Illini were projected to finish above.
Illinois is 76th in scoring 78.1 points per game, 93rd in converting 46.9% of its field goal attempts, and 151st in making 34.4% of its 3-point shots. They are 333rd in making 64.5% of free throws. The Illini are 41st in grabbing 36.6 rebounds per game.
They are 45th defensively in allowing 62.1 points per game and 25th in holding teams to 38.4% on field goal attempts. Teams shoot 31.6% from 3-point range against them, ranking 130th. They are 97th in limiting opponents to 29.5 rebounds per game.
Mizzou seeks statement
The Tigers had won three straight in the rivalry before a 25-point drubbing last season. With the bitterness of the Kansas loss, the Tigers look to make a statement.
They are fourth in the country in scoring 88.4 points per game and eighth in making 50.6% of field goal attempts. They are 93rd in making 36.1% of 3-point shots and 67th with 74.3% of free-throw attempts.
Defensively, however, they are 317th in allowing 75.0 points per game, 234th in allowing teams to make 43.7% of field goal attempts, and 342nd in allowing 37.6% of 3-point shots to fall.
Fighting Illini/Tigers Betting Prediction
This game is going to come down to who can control the tempo. Mizzou likes to get out and run and will need to utilize its offense and draw fouls to combat a stingy defense. But the Tigers will also need to show they can defend, which they didn’t do against Kansas.
Illinois has a better collection of talent, though its rivals did well in the transfer portal. Both teams are 6-5 against the spread this season, and the underdog is 5-2-1 against the spread in the last eight meetings.
But we’ll take Illinois -6.
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