ILLINOIS vs Missouri Mens NCAA Basketball

[Carpet]

Illinois and Missouri clash Tuesday night in
the annual Braggin Rights Game

Illinois and Missouri started this border war game
in 1980, all the games are played in St Louis
(Home of the STL Rams)

Illinois holds a 19-8 advantage, and they have
won the last 8 straight games vs Missouri here.

The game officially kicks off the season for both teams.

The name of the victorious team is engraved on the
a Large trophy that unlike other college rivalry games
does not travel home with the winning team.

Instead the trophy is displayed at the stadium
in a glass case in the Lobby where it sits in either
an orange and blue or black and gold space.

A Quick look at Missouri

The Tigers have beaten Praire View, Chattanooga,
Oral Roberts, Ark Pine Bluff for a combined
record of 2-31 vs Division 1 schools.

Factor in last nights win vs Stetson, where Missouri
scored 29 points in the first half and 52 in the second

Quality Wins have been vs a pretty good USC team
and a win vs California...

Coach Anderson of Missouri stated that Illinois
is just like Stetson after his win yesterday...
(Carpet begs to differ on that, cant believe
the coach would say that)

Last Year Illinois held Missouri to thier lowest
scoring average of the year in a brutal victory

I see a very close game, the line should come
in Missouri by 3,

My numbers say a free throw...

More to follow as I drill down on the strengths
and soft spots on the floor for both teams.

Carpet

[woodee12]

I got a good chance to watch most of the Detroit game on Saturday night.

When Illinois wants to play some D, they put it on pretty heavy.

I think they got their asses chewed at half b/c Detroit did not score much the 2nd half.

If they put 2 halves of that D together against Mizzou they should win.

I like the Illini myself overall and in strength of schedule.

We'll see where the line is but I would think Illinois would be getting a couple with the game being in St.Louis.

[Carpet]

Missouri opens a 1.5 chalk

A LOOK AT MISSOURI

9-1 and ranked # 25 in the AP poll

The tigers play 10 deep, they keep throwing
bodies at you all game long. They are one of the
top teams in the nation in scoring and assists.

Missouri plays a Strong Full court pressure defense
creating alot of turnovers. 30% of THE SCORING
is off Turnovers.

The two big men of Missouri Lyons 6-9 and
Carrol at 6-8 (small by most standards) are
very athletic and are scoring a combined 34 points
a game.

The tigers are a very poor free throw shooting
team clanking in about 63%

A LOOK AT ILLINOIS

10-1 not ranked. Only loss was to # 20 clemson
by 2 points

Illinois has not trailed at half time in any game
this year.

While Illinois is big down low, I expect Mike
Tisdale 7-1 center to really struggle vs Mizzu
inside.

Missouri plays a very similar style of play that
Clemson plays, full court pressure on Defense
and strong inside. While Illinois did well vs
clemson breaking the press, they got eaten up
inside. Fatigue had a awful lot to do with that
game.

Illinois moves the ball around on offense
very well, they can break the press, and with a
5 guard bench that can shoot the three, this
creates open shots for them.

If Illinois defense can deny the easy entry pass,
limit turnovers vs the press, they will be able
to push the ball ahead for some easy scores.

A great defensive team. Coach Webers staple.
If you want to play for Weber, you better play
defense or its the pine bench you will see.

A very good free throw shooting team, even the
Bigs can make them with ease.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This young Illini team will come in ready to play,
the extra motivation to beat a ranked team is
on the mind of the better players this you can bet.

Illinois defense will keep this game close, and
Free throw shooting will be a key.

Carpet is taking Illinois and all the points
you want to give. My numbers have Illinois
winning by 3.

Good Luck all

CARPET

[woodee12]

Line up to Mizzou +3. I grabbed them at 2 last night bc I thought it would go the other way.

I may grab some more at that 3 too.

[hart attack]

It all sounds good. I will try a little Illini and hopefully not jinx the others.

Don't forget, it was my great grandparents that won a sweepstakes many years ago. Their grand prize was four tickets on the unsinkable Titanic.

[Carpet]

Congrats to all who jumped onto the Carpet
winning tonight

Illinois took 25th ranked Missouri to the
WoodShed tonight winning by 16.

Say Hello to the Top 25 Illini...........

Illinois defense was clamp down excellent
holding Missouri to 59 points and 38% from
the floor in shooting.

This is the same Missouri team that was blowing
out teams by 25 points a game during the 7 game
win streak.

Illinois broke the press with ease, denied the
easy entry pass down low, and had alot of easy
baskets on the transition. Illinois shot 57% from the
floor.

Next game for Illinois is Dec 28 a warm up game
vs E Michigan.

Then December 30 the Big 10 opens play and
Illinois travels to Purdue (Write that date down)

Carpet

[hart attack]

GOOD CALL.

[woodee12]

Nice Job--Wish I would have grabbed some more when the number hit 4,, but chickened out. The jump kind of alarmed me.

That was the best game they played all year! Hope it continues anf the linesmakers don;t catch up too quickly!

[ScooterSteve]

Thank you; Took the advice and the points.
Great insight and excelent handicapping CARPET.

[Boone Moone]

Thanks again Carpet.............Cashed the parlay and the teaser with some totals..........Quite an early Christmas gift indeed !!!..............Happy Holidays to all on the Forum.