Illinois Fighting Illini at Iowa Hawkeyes, Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, IA
Wednesday, December 29, 2010, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: Big Ten Network
Opening Line: Illinois -4
Current Line: Illinois -4 1/2
Opening Total: 129
Current Total: 131 1/2
Money Line: Illinois -190 / Iowa +160
The #23 ranked Illinois Fighting Illini travel to Iowa City to take on the 7-5 Iowa Hawkeyes in the big Ten opener for both teams. The Illini are reeling after two straight losses. The Illini were inexplicably upset by Illinois-Chicago 57-54, and then last Wednesday they lost to rival Missouri in St. Louis 75-64. In the game against Missouri, the game was tied with a minute left and Illinois gave up 8 points in a 9 second span to the Tigers. Illinois also has an overtime loss to Texas in New York early in the season. Illinois has wins over North Carolina, Gonzaga, and Maryland on the year. Iowa has 5 losses on the season and most of them are to teams they should have beaten. They have losses to South Dakota St, Xavier, Long Beach St, Wake Forest and in-state rival Iowa St. The Hawkeyes’ best wins on the season are over Alabama and Northern Iowa. Illinois has won 5 straight games in the series, and covered the spread 2 of the last three times they played. Two f the last three games have gone under the total. Illinois is 10-2 ATS in road games over the last 2 seasons.
Illinois is outscoring opponents 76-65 on the season. The Illini are shooting 46.6% from the field and 39.7% from three point range. Illini opponents are shooting 40.7% from the field. The Illini are converting 68% of their free throws. Illinois has 4 players averaging double figure scoring, led by point guard Demetri McCamey with 15.7 a game. McCamey also leads the team in assists with 7.1 a game and steals with 1.2 a game. McCamey is shooting 49.2% from 3 point range. Guard D.J. Richardson scores 11.6 ppg. Forward Mike Davis averages 10.8 ppg and 6.7 rebounds a game. Center Mike Tisdale leads the team in blocks with 1.5 a game and rebounds with 7.5 a game. Tisdale also scores 10.2 ppg. Illinois averages 36.5 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +0.8. Illinois averages 17.2 assists and 12.9 turnovers a game. They also average 6.8 steals and 5.5 blocks a game.
Iowa is outscoring opponents 71-61 on the season. The Hawkeyes are shooting 43.5% from the field and 32.7% from 3 point range. They are holding opponents to 39.1% shooting from the field. Iowa makes only 64.6% of their free throws. The Hawkeyes have 5 losses on the year by a total of 35 points. They might have won a couple of more games if they could make some more free throws. Guard Matt Gatens leads the team in scoring with 11.7 ppg. He also averages 3.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists a game. Guard Eric May leads the team in steals with 2 a game. He also scores 11.2 ppg. Point guard Bryce Cartwright leads the team in assists with 4.4 a game and also scores 10.3 ppg. Forward Jarryd Cole leads the team in rebounds with 6.8 a game. Freshman forward Melsahn Basabe leads the team in blocks with 1.5 a game and also averages 6.3 rebounds a game. The Hawkeyes pull down 39.8 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +6.4. They average 13.7 assists and 14.8 turnovers a game. Iowa also averages 8.3 steals and 2,7 blocks a game.
The Iowa Hawkeyes are very young. Eight of their players are sophomores or freshmen, and they only have 2 seniors on the roster. The young Hawkeyes have been inconsistent under first year coach Fran McCaffery as they learn the new system. It won’t get any easier for the Hawkeyes as they open conference play with 5 ranked teams in their first 6 conference games. Illinois has a senior laden veteran team. Illinois looks to snap their losing streak, and get off to a good start in the conference.
Our college football handicappers are off to a great start this season as conference play begins. Don’t miss out on any more winners as 2011 approaches.
