Who's Playing

Michigan State @ Illinois

Current Records: Michigan State 15-3; Illinois 13-5

What to Know

The #10 Michigan State Spartans are 6-2 against the #24 Illinois Fighting Illini since January of 2016, and they'll have a chance to extend that success Tuesday. MSU and the Fighting Illini will face off in a Big Ten battle at 7 p.m. ET at State Farm Center. MSU will be strutting in after a win while Illinois will be stumbling in from a loss.

While not quite a landslide, the contest between MSU and the Wisconsin Badgers this past Friday was still a pretty decisive one as MSU wrapped it up with an 86-74 victory on the road. The Spartans relied on the efforts of guard A.J. Hoggard, who had 12 points and eight assists, and forward Malik Hall, who had 14 points along with eight boards.

Meanwhile, Illinois ended up a good deal behind the Maryland Terrapins when they played this past Friday, losing 81-65. The top scorer for the Fighting Illini was guard Alfonso Plummer (18 points).

MSU is expected to lose this next one by 5.5. The odds have been favorable for them against the spread on the road this season, even if it's been tough sledding overall. They are 4-0 ATS in away games but only 10-8 all in all.

MSU is now 15-3 while Illinois sits at 13-5. A couple stats to keep in the back of your head while watching: MSU is stumbling into the game with the 30th fewest takeaways in college basketball, having accrued only 11.1 on average. The Fighting Illinis have had an even harder time: they are 27th worst in college basketball in takeaways, with only 11 on average. It's possible one of these Achilles' heels will wind up tripping the losing team up.

How To Watch

  • When: Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET
  • Where: State Farm Center -- Champaign, Illinois
  • TV: ESPN
  • Follow: CBS Sports App
  • Ticket Cost: $39.00

Odds

The Fighting Illini are a solid 5.5-point favorite against the Spartans, according to the latest college basketball odds.

The oddsmakers were right in line with the betting community on this one, as the game opened as a 5.5-point spread, and stayed right there.

Over/Under: -110

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Series History

Michigan State have won six out of their last eight games against Illinois.

  • Feb 23, 2021 - Michigan State 81 vs. Illinois 72
  • Feb 11, 2020 - Michigan State 70 vs. Illinois 69
  • Jan 02, 2020 - Michigan State 76 vs. Illinois 56
  • Feb 05, 2019 - Illinois 79 vs. Michigan State 74
  • Feb 20, 2018 - Michigan State 81 vs. Illinois 61
  • Jan 22, 2018 - Michigan State 87 vs. Illinois 74
  • Mar 01, 2017 - Illinois 73 vs. Michigan State 70
  • Jan 07, 2016 - Michigan State 79 vs. Illinois 54