NCAAB Betting Illinois vs Missouri

Two teams that have gotten off to really nice starts will try to build on that in an inter-conference showdown, as the Fighting Illini of Illinois (10-1 SU, 5-3 ATS) visit the Missouri Tigers (9-1 SU, 4-1-1 ATS) in the "Bragging Rights Game," part of Tuesday night’s NCAA college basketball sports betting action that is slated to get underway at 7:30 PM ET at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, MO.

NCAA Basketball Sports Betting

Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Missouri Tigers (@ St. Louis)

Tuesday, December 23 – 7:30 PM ET

BetOnline NCAA Basketball Sports Betting Odds: MISSOURI -3

Here are some of the NCAA basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* ILL has covered five of its last seven games

* ILL has won 14 of its last 16 games SU

* ILL has covered four of its last six road games

* ILL has won five of its last six road games SU

* MIZZ has won its last seven games SU

* MIZZ has covered three of its last 12 games

* MIZZ has played five of its last six games OVER the total

* MIZZ has won its last five home games SU

* ILL has won the last eight meetings SU

* Four of the last six meetings have gone UNDER the total

* ILL has won the last five meetings SU as the road team

Illinois looks like a team that could be for real. They’ve registered decent wins over Vanderbilt, Kent State and Tulsa, and they have hammered teams like Georgia (76-42) and Detroit (82-51), the latter coming after a nine-day break for exams. The Illini is a two-point heart-breaker (against Clemson) away from having a perfect record. Bruce Weber had to endure a sub-.500 season last year (16-19) and it appears as if he is coming back with a team that is well worthy of improving on that. There may not be room for Illinois to challenge for the Big Ten title, but the Illini should have a better than average chance at an NCAA tournament bid.

Demetri McCarney and Trent Meacham are providing a little more offense in the backcourt than they were last season, and Mike Davis (13 ppg, 8.2 rpg) has emerged as a nice inside threat. Alex Legion, a very talented transfer from Kentucky who has just became eligible, received his first playing time in the game against Detroit and will see even more in this game.

Missouri is now a top 25 team, coming in at the tail end of the latest AP rankings. They’ve suffered just one loss, down in Puerto Rico against the Musketeers of Xavier. Thus far they’ve encountered mostly teams from the smaller conferences, although they have also posted two double-digit wins over well-regarded Pac-10 squads – USC (83-72) and California (93-66). The two big guns are going to be difficult for Illinois to handle. DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons are combining for almost 34 points and over 14 rebounds a game, and the Tigers are getting solid play from not one, but two point guards – Delaware transfer Zaire Taylor and freshman Miguel Paul, who are teaming up for 5.9 assists against just 2.2 turnovers.

Don’t sell Illinois short up front however, the Illini can compete with slender 6’10" Mike Davis (13 ppg, 8.2 rpg) and 7’1" Mike Tisdale (10.4 ppg). Don’t underestimate Meacham’s three-point bombing either (47%). In this kind of game, with two emerging clubs, we would tend to take any points available, especially if it’s with the team that has registered eight straight wins in the rivalry. We’ll go with Illinois, the three-point underdog in the BetOnline NCAA college basketball sports betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: ILLINOIS +3 **

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

(Charles Jay of http://www.ebookies.com makes his share of shots from downtown as a contributor to the BetOnline Locker Room)