Throw out the record books when the Missouri Tigers and the Illinois Fighting Illini get together. This is one of the most unpredictable rivalries in college basketball, and each of the last five meetings have been decided by single digits. There's no reason to expect anything but another close game between these foes at the Scottrade Center on Wednesday night.
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HOW THE MISSOURI TIGERS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Missouri is going through some growing pains now from when Frank Haith left it high and dry just over a year ago. This team looks absolutely nothing like what it used to just a couple seasons back, and the transition into the SEC has generally been pretty tough.
These last two games against N.C. State and Arizona have really proven that the Tigers aren't anywhere near beating these top flight teams. Neither game was all that close, and this one would threaten to play out the same way if the offense can't get into the 60s.
This team is legitimately 10 men deep, and players rotate in and out of the lineup consistently. However, that's about all the consistency that we see out of Mizzou. Though all 10 men average at least 3.7 points per game, only one averages double figures. Kevin Puryear is also the only qualified shooter hitting more than 48 percent of his shots from the field.
There are games that men like Terrence Phillips, Namon Wright, Wes Clark and the gang are really good, but it isn't often that they're all good at the same time Puryear is. Getting some consistent play offensively is going to be the key in this one.
HOW THE ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Illinois has seemed to get back into the swing of things after losses at the end of November and beginning of December to Iowa State and Notre Dame. The Illini have rolled off five straight wins, and avoiding landmines like this game is paramount to have a shot to dance come March.
Malcolm Hill has had some really superhuman games this year. He's a matchup nightmare at 6-foot-6, and he can leap out of the building. He's the best passer the Illini have on offense, and he's their best defensive player as well.
Hill has three straight games with at least 20 points scored, and he might have to reach that point yet again to give the Illini a shot at covering as relatively big favorites against their hated rivals.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Hill and his mates had a really tough time offensively against Missouri last year, and we have to think the Tigers are going to try to ugly this game up just a bit to have a shot at pulling the upset.
We do think this'll end up being a relatively close game due to the nature of the rivalry between the two, but the best player on the court is clearly Hill. We suspect he'll be the difference maker in this one, scoring around 25 or so to lead the Illini to a victory which will get locked up late.
Illinois 68, Missouri 60
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Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here, so start betting with BookMaker today! The game between the Missouri Tigers and the Illinois Fighting Illini is scheduled for Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. ET at the Scottrade Center. Catch the game live on ESPN2.
