Purdue Boilermakers at Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Preview

Opening Line: Boilermakers -4/ Fighting Illini +4 O/U 137

Time: 9 PM EST Tuesday January 19, 2010 on ESPN

Tonight in a Big 10 match up the Illinois Fighting Illini host the struggling Purdue Boilermakers. Purdue began the season 14-0 and were ranked 4th in the nation, but since that time they have lost 3 in a row and are now 1 game under .500 in conference play. The Illini are coming off a loss, but they had won their previous 3 games and only have one conference loss this season.

This season Illinois is 8-1 at home and 6-11 ATS and Purdue is 2-2 on the road and 7-9-1 ATS.

In their last games Illinois lost to Michigan State 73-63 while Purdue lost to Northwestern 72-64.

This is not a great match up for the Boilermakers, as Illinois ranks 2nd in the Big 10 averaging 38.1 rpg and in all 5 conference games for Purdue they have been out-rebounded by an average of 8.2 rpg.

Illinois has a very well-rounded and balanced offense with guards Demetri McCamey (14.8 ppg) and D.J. Richardson (10.4 ppg), C Mike Tisdale (12.2 ppg), and F Mike Davis (11.2 ppg).

Much like Illinois Purdue has a balanced offense with leading scorer E'Twaun Moore (17.5 ppg), Robbie Hummel (16.6 ppg), and JaJuan Johnson (13.2 ppg). Hummel (7 rpg) and Johnson (6.8 rpg) have the responsibility tonight on the boards, as they cannot allow the Illini to dominate the glass.

Purdue also has to put a body on Illinois C Mike Tisdale, who is 7'1" and not let him have his way in the paint on both ends of the floor. F JuJuan Johnson is 6'10" and the big guy in the middle for the Boilermakers, but he has been hurt by foul problems this season and he cannot afford to let that happen tonight or Tisdale may have a big game.

Illini frontcourt players of Mike Davis (9.4 rpg) and Mike Tisdale (6.1 rpg) are both solid rebounders and if they can win the battle of the glass Illinois will be tough to beat in this game.

Illinois is 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games, 4-9 ATS in their last 13 home games, and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS win. Purdue is 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games, and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games against teams in the Big Ten.

Our Selection : The Boilermakers after winning 14 in a row SU have now lost 3 straight games. All 3 losses have come against fellow Big 10 foes. The Illini on the other hand are 10-0 at home and 3-0 when hosting Big 10 opponents and 4-1 overall in conference games. Take Illinois + 4


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