ESPN Prediction: Illinois Basketball at Michigan State

Take, for instance, the NCAA’s Net rankings, in which Illinois is the highest-ranked Big Ten team (No. 7), while MSU checks in 10 spots lower (No. 17). Or in KenPom, where the Illini rank eighth and the Spartans 14th.

But as is often the case in college basketball – and especially the current Big Ten – what often matters more than all the other numbers are two things: latitude and longitude.

And with the Spartans hosting the Illini in East Lansing, Michigan, on Sunday (11 a.m. CT, on CBS), ESPN’s Basketball Power Index predictor somewhat unsurprisingly tab MSU as the favorite, with a 56.0 percent chance of defending its Breslin Center turf against Illinois.

And despite our suggestion that the numbers may not mean much, ESPN’s BPI has been quite accurate in picking the winner of both teams' contests so far this season.

Through 17 games, BPI has "correctly" predicted 15 of Illinois’ games (with the team that had a chance of 50 percent or better to win coming out on top). Ditto for Michigan State: ESPN has gone 15-for-17 in "picking" the Spartans' games.

But it's by no means hopeless for the Illini, who match up exceptionally well with the Spartans and whose explosiveness Spartans coach Tom Izzo knows all too well. And, after all, what's 6.0 percent probability between Big Ten rivals?

More From Illinois on Sports Illustrated:

Illinois Basketball's Flawless First Half Leaves Indiana at All-Time Low

Illinois Basketball Report Card: Grades at Indiana (Game 17)

Illinois Basketball Makes Significant Moves in NET, KenPom Rankings