Maryland Terrapins @ Illinois Fighting Illini Game Pick/Analisys

[upperhand]

Hey everyone its my first post on these boards, Im a big NCAA capper for my site and I also pick NHL games. Heres a game ive been looking at for a while now I hope it helps you guys out and gives me a little reputation as well :yeah:

Its in my mind just as big as the Kansas vs Florida overtime thriller just this one isnt on national tv :mad:

Enjoy.

NCAA College Basketball
Maryland Terrapins ( 7-0 )vs Illinois Fighting Illini ( 7-0 )
Line: Illinois -1.5, Illinois -125
Over/Under 146.5

Maryland:

The Terrapins have started the season on a 7-0 run straight up and are 2-5 Against The Spread. Maryland is also 3-6 Straight up in their last 9 games on the road dating back to last season. The total has been under in 4 of the last 6 games the Terrapins have played in. Maryland has the 23rd best point per game overall average with 83.4 points per game and are averaging just under 38 rebounds for 43rd in the league. They are shooting just shy of 50% good for 52nd in the league. Their defense is strong in applying pressure and getting in the shooter face as their opponents are only shooting 34% agaisnt them. They are allowing 62 points against and are near last in the league alllowing 35 rebounds per game. All of Maryland's games have been big blow outs with a Maryland win of 14 points or more except for a last minute 2 point win vs the Michigan State Spartans. Their offense will be put to the test when they play the 7-0 Illini on Tuesday night when they play the strong Illinois defense.


Illinois:

The Illini are 5-0 in their last 5 games Straight Up, 5-0 Straight up at home in their last 5 games a 5-0 Against the spread in their last 5 games. Their semi-mediocore offense is still a good one even though they are ranked low in the rankings. They are averaging 76.4 points per game with is 80th in the league. They are grabbing 33.5 rebounds per game which is ranked 98th in the league, however they are shooting 50% from the field. This is a strong point in the Illini's game and also a strong point in the Terrapins Defense. This will be a big matchup in tonights game. The Illini have one of the top defenses in the league right now. They are allowing a dismal 50 points per game which is ranked 5th. A average of only 23 rebounds against which is good for 9th in the league, and their opponenets are only shooting 35.8 points against them all game. They have like Maryland blew out their opponents by more than 24 points but had two close calls vs Bradley and Miami OH in their past two games that came down to 3 points each. It will be tough to bet agaisnt these records that Illinois has managed to put up in the past games going 5-0 in SU, ATS and Under Totals.

Key Matchups In The Stats:

Offense:
[b]Illinois:[b]
Loss- AVG. Score For : 76.0
Loss- AVG. Rebounds For: 33.4
Win- FG % Per Game: 50.1%
[b]Maryland:[b]
Win- AVG, Score For: 83.1
Win- AVG. Rebounds For: 37.3
Loss- FG% Per Game: 48.7

Defense:
Illinois:
Win- AVG Score Agaisnt: 51.0
Win- AVG. Rebounds Against: 23.1
Win- AVG FG% Agaisnt: 35.1%
Maryland:
Loss- AVG. Score Against: 62.1
Loss- AVG. Rebounds Against: 34.4
Loss- AVG FG% Against: 35.9%

Simply because of their strong defense and their amazing defense I think that the Illini will be able to shut down Maryland's high flying offense. When you go 5-0 in SU, ATS and Under Total it gives that team a big edge in a big game.

5 Unit Plays

Illinois Fighting Illini Money Line -125
Illinois Fighting Illini vs Maryland Terrapins Under 146.5

Comments anyone, what do you guys think?

[COACH DITKA]

Nice write-up! All I know is I will be courtside for the game Krushing it up. We will do our best to make Assembly Hall rocking (best mark in the nation the last 7+ years at home -- something like 96-4 or so).

Jamar Smith is back as he returned the other night versus Bradley, though I don't think he is 100% yet. Though our team is young, hopefully the crowd and our slightly more experienced Gs can rattle the 2 freshman they got in the backcourt. Pruitt and Carter are going to have to step up again and play big down low. Jamar is gonna have to light it up from behind the arch and McBride is still trying get back into the flow following suspension. Frazier could be the key, depending how he runs the point. He must continue to play the solid D he has been playing. Hopefully he stays aggressive and continues to attack the rim (been inconsistent in this in the early going).
Illini have been playing suffocating defense for the most part. One of the biggest keys is getting out to a good start as in most games thus far, we have found ourselves down, including 18-4 to the basketball powerhouse known as Jackson St. Aside from that, their FT shooting is PLAIN AWFUL. If they don't improve this soon, it is really going to haunt them at the end of close games.
Either way, I can't wait for the game and GO ILLINI! :thumbs:

As for betting, if the ML for the 1H is good enough for MD, I'd honestly consider taking it, but I think the Orange and Blue come out on top when all is said and done.

[CuseFan10]

Huh? How is Illinois vs Maryland as "big" as Kansas vs Florida?

Also, I wouldn't watch out about mentioning "your site" just so you know.

GL!

[Bengal]

Where are you getting those lines from?

Dan

[COACH DITKA]

Didn't notice the line yesterday, though I do see IL as 4 pt favorites on Sportsbook now w/a ML of -190.
4 pt spread on Bodog as well, but no ML yet.
GO ILLINI! :yeah:

[TKONO99]

Hey Coach Ditka, I'll be at the game as well. Lets go ILL-INI!

As far as the game as concerned I feel that Illinois is VERY under-rated this year b/c we've lost all our key players from the last two seasons. (Dee Brown, Luther Head, Deron Williams, James Augustine, Roger Powell, etc) Many are playing in the pros now. However, our younger talent has been practicing w/ these stars their entire college career and now have their time to shwo their stuff in the national spotlight of the ACC/BT Challenge.

Jamar Smith will be seeing significant playing time and he can be lethal form behind the arc. Chester Frazier has improved dramtically and is solid on both defense and being our primary ball-handler. Warren Carter has also improved since last year as he and Shaun Pruitt are our go to big guys w/ Carter stronger on the offensive side and Pruitt tougher on Defense. Richard McBride the elder statesmen of the team is back off suspension and should be our go to guy tonight. He has to step up as a senior and lead these young guys. I think he will come out with something to prove tonight and step out of the shadow of the players he used to play with.

Illinois will however be w/o our most versatile and athletic player Brian Randall.

Illinois has played some close games this year. But as mentioned previosly the Illini are deadly in our house, ASSEMBLY HALL in CHAMPAIGN!

Maryland much like Illini have not played the stiffest competition. Maryland howver has not played in anything near the hostiule environment they will play in tonight. And the one team they have played in any way comprable to the Illini was a YOUNG Mich State team where they squeaked by with a 2 pt victory at home.

Maryland's size and length are a little worrisome but I think Illinois is also a deeper team with our bench players seeing some good playing time early this year due to injury and suspension.

Im a homer so I will be playing

ILLINOIS -4 (although this may be a lil too much) 2 UNITS

GL ALL

And watch for me on TV. Ill be the drunk college kid!



:gulp:

[RdnyMonroe81]

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but Ibekwe is not gonna play tonight for Maryland.

[unc50]

this just in....I heard a pin drop at Assembly Hall. haha

Fear the Turtle and the ACC.

[upperhand]

Thats how you play basketball....not!


Guys that went to the game, how bad did Illinois blow their 5 point last few minute lead?

[Horatio]

Originally posted by RdnyMonroe81
I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but Ibekwe is not gonna play tonight for Maryland.

Maryland won without one of their best guys playing?? Wow.:gulp:

[COACH DITKA]

Originally posted by upperhand
Thats how you play basketball....not!


Guys that went to the game, how bad did Illinois blow their 5 point last few minute lead?


Really, it was every way you could possibly think of. Missed some FTs. Had awful TOs (including a pass off a rebound right to MD right under the basket). Poor shot selection. Poor shooting (which was all night). It was just not the Illini's night, though I'm not sure why Jamar only played 1:27 in the 2nd half.