College Basketball Picks: Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Michigan State Spartans

The Michigan State Spartans are 125-21 all-time against Big Ten Conference opponents at the Breslin Center, which is important to consider when making your NCAA basketball picks on Thursday night, as they prepare to host the Illinois Fighting Illini on ESPN.

Sports bettors will find that the Spartans are 8.5-point favorites in the college basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 133 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this high-profile affair from a betting perspective, while offering up an against-the-spread pick along the way.

Illinois Fighting Illini

The Illinois Fighting Illini have dropped four of their last five games in straight-up fashion, including a 74-60 setback to the Michigan Wolverines as six-point home underdogs last time out.

Sports bettors will find that the Fighting Illini are 0-5 against the spread when failing to score 70 or more points in Big Ten play, which is going to be a difficult number to reach on Thursday night versus an opponent that has allowed just 54.2 points per game at home this year.

Michigan State Spartans

The Michigan State Spartans will be out for revenge in this affair, as they dropped a 42-41 decision to the Illinois Fighting Illini as 1.5-point road favorites last season.

Sports bettors will find that the Spartans are a dominating 34-8 against the spread as home favorites of 6.5 to nine points in their last 42 opportunities. 

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the Michigan State Spartans as one of their college basketball picks. The Illinois Fighting Illini are a dismal 3-12 against the spread in their last 15 road games versus teams with a winning home record. 

College Basketball Pick: Michigan State Spartans -8.5

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