The Penn State Nittany Lions are off to a 6-3 start to the 2022-23 NCAA Basketball season, 12th in the Big Ten Conference, and are currently on a two-game losing streak.
They are coming off a loss against the Michigan State Spartans (67-58) and will take on the No. 17 Illinois Fighting Illini, who are 7-2 at the start of the season.
They are 11th in the Big Ten Conference and won their previous game against the No. 2 Texas Longhorns (85-78). They will host this game at the State Farm Center on Saturday (December 9) where they will look to register their eighth win of the season.
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Penn State Nittany Lions vs Illinois Fighting Illini: Betting Odds
The Penn State Nittany Lions have six wins and three losses so far this season. Three losses have come against teams like the Virginia Tech Hokies (61-59), the Clemson Tigers (101-94), and the Michigan State Spartans (67-58). They now have a chance away from home to earn their seventh win of the season.
The team is scoring a decent 74.8 points per game and is conceding 67.2 points. Their shooting from behind the arc has been at an impressive 39.3% whereas the field goal percentage is a solid 45.6. Their total offensive rebounds per game are 32.3 and 33.0 defensive rebounds.
The Illinois Fighting Illini has seven wins and two losses. The two losses came against the No.3 Virginia Cavaliers (70-61) and the No. 13 Maryland Terrapins (71-66). They now have a chance at home to secure their eighth win of the season.
The team has been offensively very sound this season, scoring 81.3 points per game, which ranks them 35th in the league, and are conceding only 62.4 points. Their 3-pt shooting is decent at 35.7% whereas the field goal percentage stands at an impressive 47.6.
Penn State Nittany Lions vs Illinois Fighting Illini: Match Details
Fixture: Penn State Nittany Lions @ Illinois Fighting Illini
Date & Time: Saturday, December 10, 12:00 p.m ET
Venue: State Farm Center, Champaign, Illinois
Penn State Nittany Lions vs Illinois Fighting Illini: Prediction
The Fighting Illini are 4-0 against the spread in their last four home games. They are also 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games played on a Saturday. Illinois has one injury concern at the moment. Luke Goode is missing due to a foot injury. The Nittany Lions have no injuries to deal with at the moment.
Penn State has a 6-4 advantage over Illini in their last 10 encounters. However, it is Fighting Illini who has won all the previous four games they played against each other. They are also hosting this game and have better statistics this season, which makes them better favorites for this contest.
Final Prediction: Illinois Fighting Illini -10 (-110)
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