Why Illinois Basketball Will Dominate Texas Tech

Playing on the road against a top-25 opponent is never truly a sure thing – even for an Illinois squad ranked No. 3 in the nation. Texas Tech, which climbed to No. 16 in Monday's latest AP poll and only just last season toppled the Illini in Champaign, is no joke.

The metrics have the Illini and Red Raiders just as close as the rankings suggest. KenPom's ratings slot Texas Tech at No. 17, while Illinois is No. 4. So with the game being played in Lubbock, it's essentially a coin flip, right? Not even close. Here’s why:

3 reasons Illinois will rout Texas Tech

Illinois’ rebounding prowess

Illinois’ average rebounding margin of plus-36.5 ranks first in the country among teams that have played…