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Michigan State vs. Illinois: College Basketball Best Bets, Picks & Predictions (Friday)

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As we are deep in the college basketball season, now is the time to use the plethora of data to get going on winning some money. I hope that successfully betting on college basketball was part of your New Year’s resolution because I will be providing successful plays up until the end of the season. It’s a slow slate today, but I am sure I can still find you some winners. Remember to shop around for the best odds. Especially for lower-tier games, you can find multiple value points depending on the books you bet at.

Here are my best bets for today’s men’s college basketball slate. And below you’ll find a closer look at Michigan State vs. Illinois.

Check out our other best bets for Friday:

All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Today’s Best College Basketball Betting Picks: Michigan State vs. Illinois

There may not be two teams trending more in the opposite direction than these two are. After some big wins, Illinois started Big Ten play 0-3, licking their wounds with wins over an injured Wisconsin team and Nebraska. Michigan State, meanwhile, is riding a seven-game winning streak, ranking 20th in the nation in the momentum metric.

The question is – what’s sustainable? Will Illinois find its groove? Can Michigan State keep up its winning ways? I think Illinois is in for some trouble, especially in conference play. Despite their effectiveness down low offensively and defensively, I trust Michigan State way more with their ability to shoot from deep and facilitate well to find the open look. 

I expect this game to come down to the wire, which also favors the Spartans. Illinois ranks in the bottom 300 in free throw percentage, while Michigan State ranks in the top 50. I’d advise continuing fading Illinois until they prove their ability to stay consistent. 

Play: Michigan State +5.5

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Ryan Coleman is a featured writer at BettingPros. Follow him on Twitter @ryancoleman_98. For more from Ryan, check out his archive.

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