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I have made a nice profit scouting unders in minor college hoops, and tonight there is a total that jumps off the board at me.
Illinois-Chicago and Northern Illinois play a very different style of basketball. Northern Illinois wants to play fast, up-tempo ball, and Illinois-Chicago, under new coach Howard Moore, is being groomed to be a defensive team, who flies to the ball, and uses the clock on every possession to limit the opportunities of their opponent.
I believe this early, non-conference matchup against a run-and-gun opponent is one Moore is going to use to challenge his young team to utilize his offense, slowing down the game, and limiting No. Illini's offensive possessions.
In its last five games, the AVG total for Illinois-Chicago games is just 115.2.
In its last five games, the AVG total for Northern Illinois is 140.8 pts/game.
This perfectly illustrates the contrast in the two styles of play, but it should also be noted that No. Illinois' totals include putting up 86 points against Maryland Eastern-Shore, and 81 points on Cardinal Stricht, a school I have literally never heard of. They will not reach this total against the Illinois-Chicago defense.
If you take the average of the last five contests for each squad, it gives you a total of right around 127. This is the range I see this game falling, although I would lean toward the Under even on this number, as I think Illinois-Chicago will be successful in limiting possessions from No Illinois, even if they do give up some fast break points.
At 137, I think this total is a gift. If you believe this total is going OVER the number, you may as well parlay this with Northern Illinois, because it means that they fully dictated every aspect of this game. I don't think that will happen.
Illinois-Chicago/Northern Illinois UNDER 137 large.
Good luck all.
Illinois-Chicago and Northern Illinois play a very different style of basketball. Northern Illinois wants to play fast, up-tempo ball, and Illinois-Chicago, under new coach Howard Moore, is being groomed to be a defensive team, who flies to the ball, and uses the clock on every possession to limit the opportunities of their opponent.
I believe this early, non-conference matchup against a run-and-gun opponent is one Moore is going to use to challenge his young team to utilize his offense, slowing down the game, and limiting No. Illini's offensive possessions.
In its last five games, the AVG total for Illinois-Chicago games is just 115.2.
In its last five games, the AVG total for Northern Illinois is 140.8 pts/game.
This perfectly illustrates the contrast in the two styles of play, but it should also be noted that No. Illinois' totals include putting up 86 points against Maryland Eastern-Shore, and 81 points on Cardinal Stricht, a school I have literally never heard of. They will not reach this total against the Illinois-Chicago defense.
If you take the average of the last five contests for each squad, it gives you a total of right around 127. This is the range I see this game falling, although I would lean toward the Under even on this number, as I think Illinois-Chicago will be successful in limiting possessions from No Illinois, even if they do give up some fast break points.
At 137, I think this total is a gift. If you believe this total is going OVER the number, you may as well parlay this with Northern Illinois, because it means that they fully dictated every aspect of this game. I don't think that will happen.
Illinois-Chicago/Northern Illinois UNDER 137 large.
Good luck all.
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