The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (6-7) travel to face off against the Illinois Fighting Illini (9-2) on Friday, December 29th. This game will be played at State Farm Center in Champaign and televised on BTN. Both team’s come into this one having won their previous games. Tip-off is set for 9:00 ET.
Fairleigh Dickinson Knights vs Illinois Fighting Illini
The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights Are Coming Off A Win
After 13 games, Fairleigh Dickinson has a record of 6-7. In their 8 road games, they have gone 3-5 while at home they are 1-0. Fairleigh Dickinson has a winning record against the spread at 5-4. In their last ten games, Fairleigh Dickinson is 2-3 vs. the spread.
Looking at their over/under performance through 13 games, Fairleigh Dickinson has an over/under record of 5-4-0, with their games averaging 158 points per game on average. In their most recent three games, the Knights’ over/under record is 2-1, with their games averaging 159 points per game.
The Illinois Fighting Illini Are Coming Off A Win
Illinois comes into this game with a 9-2 overall record, having played 11 games. In their last ten home games, including those from last year, Illinois has a record of 8-2. Against the spread, Illinois has a current record of 4-4-1. In their previous five games, they are 3-0-2 ATS.
Illinois’ games have, on average, featured 143.1 points per game leading to an over/under record of 4-5-0. Their average over/under line is currently 145.4 points so far. When assessing the Fighting Illini’s performance in their last three games, their over/under record stands at 2-1, with their games averaging 155 points per game.
Fairleigh Dickinson Offense Breakdown
In contrast to their season average of 81.5 points per game, the Fairleigh Dickinson had a below average performance. They scored 76 points against Manhattan and had a field goal percentage of 41.8%. On the offensive front, the Knights have a season-long field goal percentage of 44%, ranking 234th nationally. When it comes to three-point shooting, they are ranked 195th in terms of percentage and 42nd in three-pointers made.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ansley Almonor (F) | 16.7 | 5.8 | 1.2 |
| Sean Moore (F) | 11.5 | 7.3 | 1.5 |
| Jo’el Emanuel (F) | 10.8 | 5.8 | 1.5 |
Illinois Offense Breakdown
Illinois is coming off a good offensive performance, putting up 97 points vs. Missouri. This figure is more than their season average of 81 points per game. The top scorer for the Fighting Illini was Terrence Shannon Jr. with 30 points, while Quincy Guerrier also added 28 to the scoreboard.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terrence Shannon Jr. (G) | 21.7 | 4.5 | 2.5 |
| Marcus Domask (F) | 11.6 | 4.6 | 2.1 |
| Quincy Guerrier (F) | 10.5 | 6.8 | 0.3 |
Fairleigh Dickinson Team Defense
Looking at the Fairleigh Dickinson defense, they will be looking for a better performance considering they are currently conceding 81.8 points per game (267th). On average, opposing teams are hitting 7.9 threes per game vs. Illinois. This has come on three-point shooting percentage of 30.0%.
Illinois Team Defense
This season, the Illinois defense has been impressive, holding the 22nd position in the country while permitting an average of 61.8 points per contest. The Illinois defense is coming off a game in which they gave up a total of 73 points and allowed Missouri to connect on 6 threes.
Knights vs Fighting Illini Trends
- In their last five road games, Fairleigh Dickinson has averaged 75 points per game while allowing 81. The team’s record in this stretch was 2-3 while going 3-2.
- The Fighting Illini are 2-0-1 ATS in their last three home games and 2-1 straight-up.
- Spanning across their last five games as the betting underdog, the Knights have gone 1-4 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 1-4.
- Through their last five games as the favorite, the Fighting Illini have an ATS record of 3-1-1 and a straight up mark of 5-0.
Knights vs Fighting Illini Prediction
For a pick on the point-spread in this Fighting Illini vs. Knights matchup, our bet is to grab the Knights at +26.5. Even though our projections have the Fighting Illini winning 76-67, we see the Knights as the play on the point-spread.
As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 162.5 and our model has the Knights and Fighting Illini finishing with a combined 143 points. Our pick is to take the under.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:December 29, 2023 Fairleigh Dickinson Knights, Illinois Fighting Illini, Teams