In a Tuesday night Big Ten Conference, the Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-0) will take on the Illinois Fighting Illini (4-2), in a college basketball matchup, at State Farm Center, on December 15 at 7:00 PM.
The Golden Gophers come into this game with a massive 6-0 record, having won the Kansas City Kangaroos by 90-61 last Friday. On the other hand, the Fighting Illini enter this game with a 4-2 record, fresh from a loss to the Missouri Tigers (78-81).
Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Odds
Odds via FanDuel as of Monday, December 15 (10:11 am ET)
Money Line: Illinois Fighting Illini -360 | Minnesota Golden Gophers +290 (at Fanduel)
Point Spread: Illinois Fighting Illini -7.5 (-110) | Minnesota Golden Gophers +7.5 (-110) (at Fanduel)
Total Over/Under: Over 146.5 (-110) | Under 146.5 (-110) (at Fanduel)
The Minnesota Golden Gophers to Maintain Perfect Record
The Minnesota Golden Gophers have had an amazing run thus far in the season, with a perfect record of 6-0 in their first 6 games, which is an amazing start compared to their run last season, with an overall 15-16 record and an 8-12 record in the Big Ten Conference. The Gophers junior center Liam Robbins recorded 27 points on the board, with 9 rebounds and 2 assists in their win against Kangaroos. Junior guard Marcus Carr secured 15 points with 7 rebounds, and Both Gach got 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers have had close calls leading to their perfect record, one of which was the game against the Boston College Eagles, that saw the Gophers win by a 5 point differential (85-80), with Marcus Carr leading the board with 20 points and 6 assists.
Marcus Carr leads the Gophers in scoring with an average of 23.8 points per game with 3.7 rebounds and a team-high of 6.2 assists. 48.5 percent of his shots are from the field, with 80 percent from the free-throw line, and 39.5 percent from beyond the arc (outside the three-point line). Liam Robbins averages 12.5 points per game, with a team-high of 7.7 rebounds, and Both Gach averages at 15.3 points per game, with 6.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
The Illinois Fighting Illini in Need of Consistency
The Illinois Fighting Illini has had a rather inconsistent run so far, with a 4-2 record. In their last three outings, they had won over the Duke Blue Devils (83-68), lost the remaining two games to the Baylor Bears (69-82), and the Missouri Tigers. They had started the season well, with three consecutive wins over North Carolina A&T Aggies (122-60), Chicago State Cougars (97-38), and a close call over the Ohio Bobcats (77-75).
They come into this game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, off a defeat suffered to the cold hands of the Missouri Tigers (78-81). Their leading scorer, Junior guard Ayo Dosunmu put up 36 points, 5 rebounds, and an assist. Their sophomore center Kofi Cockburn came up with 19 points and 6 rebounds, and freshman guard Andre Curbelo secured 14 points, four rebounds, and 4 assists.
Ayo Dosunmu is pegged as one of the best guards in the country, averaging 24.8 points with 7.7 rebounds and a team-high of 5.2 assists. 52.5 percent of his shots are within the arc (inside the three-point line), 80 percent from the free-throw line, and 40.9 percent from the three-pointer region. Kofi Cockburn averages 14 points per game with a team-high of 8.8 rebounds, and Andre Curbelo averages 11 points per game with 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
Betting Prediction
While Ayo Dosunmu will clearly be a threat to the Minnesota Golden Gophers, the Minnesota offense might have a field day. This matchup will likely be a high scoring one, with the Golden Gophers securing the win.
Pick: Minnesota Golden Gophers (+290) at FanDuel