One of the best things about college basketball betting is that sometimes you stumble upon little nuggets that you would have never discovered otherwise. Here’s a perfect example. Did you realize the annual meeting on the hardwood between Illinois and Missouri is called the Braggin’ Rights game?
I have to say, it feels like the people who named this series could have spent more than just 2-3 minutes coming up with that blockbuster moniker. Fortunately, we have a potentially great basketball game to make up for it.
Here are our best college basketball free picks and predictions for No. 9 Illinois at Missouri. The tip-off is scheduled for Saturday, December 12 at 8:00 ET in Columbia, Missouri.
Illinois Fighting Illini at Missouri Tigers Betting Preview
Key Injuries
Illinois: Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk F (Out), Austin Hutcherson G (Out).
Missouri: None to report.
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
Missouri is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games. Find more NCAA betting trends for Illinois vs. Missouri.
Against the Spread (ATS) Pick
The interesting facts about this matchup don’t stop with the rivalry nickname. The home court in this game was decided by a virtual coin flip, so it’s the Tigers who will host in Columbia. However, the game will be played in an empty arena because of COVID-19 concerns.
The Illini will make the short trip after their most impressive victory of the season, an 83-68 victory against Duke in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Illinois has a massive size advantage in the frontcourt with 7-footer Kofi Cockburn and 6-foot-9 Giorgi Bezhanishvili, and but it’s junior guard Ayo Dosunmu who guides this team. Against the Blue Devils, he scored 18 points along with 12 rebounds.
The Tigers are making their case for the Top 25 after an undefeated start 4-0 start, their best since beginning 10-0 in 2013. They had to rally against Liberty on Wednesday before pulling out a 69-60 win. Offensively, it’s been a collective effort for Missouri, but Mark Smith paces the team with 17.3 points per game. Xavier Pinson and Dru Smith also average more than 13 points per game each.
While Illinois’ win against Duke was convincing, the Illini also went 7-11 from long-range, a clip of 63.6 percent. You can beat almost anyone shooting that well. I expect that number to drop in Columbia. In addition, Missouri has won the past two games in this series, so I’m putting my money on the Tigers to keep this game within the number.
PREDICTION: Missouri +2.5 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
It’s always difficult analyzing Totals this time of year because we’re still gathering information based on just a handful of games. Missouri will have to deal with the size of Illini in the frontcourt, so they’ll need to shoot well from the perimeter in order to put points on the board. Conversely, the Tigers will put their full defensive focus on slowing down Dosunmu, and I expect them to have success while the Illini cool off from behind the three-point arc.
The Under has hit in five out of the last seven games in this series, and that’s the play in what should be an entertaining early-season battle—rivalry nickname aside.
PREDICTION: Under 142 (-110)
Illinois vs Missouri Betting Card
- Missouri +2.5 (-110)
- Under 142 (-110)
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