MSU, which is ranked No. 12 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, is coming off a 90-85 victory over Penn State on Jan. 15 in East Lansing. Illinois (13-4, 5-2 Big Ten) is ranked No. 20 in the Coaches Poll and is coming off a 94-69 win over Indiana in its most recent game on Jan. 11.

Here are three bold predictions to keep an eye out for in the Illini-Spartans game: 1. Illinois will be outrebounded. The Illini might have a bit more size and a higher rebounding

MSU thumped Illinois at the Bres, 88-80, avenging an earlier loss in Sham-pain. Tomorrow the Illini roll into their return matchup back at the Breslin Center with plenty of momentum coming off a dominant 94-69 win over Indiana.

Any matchup that identifies Michigan State basketball as the underdog on its own home court is a once-in-a-blue-moon affair – and, unfortunately for visiting Illinois, there is no such lunar event in the forecast Sunday.