The red-hot Rutgers Scarlet Knights will look to keep it going this coming Wednesday against the formidable Illinois Fighting Illini for the second time this season. Who will come out on top in this rematch? Check out our preview below of this Illinois-Rutgers Big Ten matchup.
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Betting Preview for the Illinois Fighting Illini vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights NCAA College Basketball Game on February 16 2022
Where: Jersey Mike’s Arena, Piscataway, NJ
When: Wednesday, February 16, 2022, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Illinois Fighting Illini (odds) vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (odds) – view all 2022 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Illinois Fighting Illini (odds)
Record: 18-6 Overall/11-3 Conference
Illinois avoided losing back-to-back when it fended off the Northwestern Wildcats in a 73-68 home win last Sunday. That was a nice way to rebound for the Fighting Illini from their 84-68 setback at the hands of the Purdue Boilermakers on Feb. 8. Alfonso Plummer and Kofi Cockburn each had 19 points to power Illinois past the Wildcats, Cockburn also pulled down 15 rebounds. Cockburn’s presence is always a threat to opponents, given his experience, skill, and size. The seven-foot Cockburn is one of the best talents in college basketball today, who’s already dominated Rutgers earlier this season. He had 13 points and 15 rebounds in 27 minutes of an 86-51 home win over the Scarlet Knights. With Cockburn cleaning the glass, Illini outrebounded the Scarlet Knights by a huge margin, 47-33. Ranked No. 1 in adjusted defensive efficiency in the Big Ten, the Fighting Illini held Rutgers star Ron Harper Jr. down to only five points on 1/9 shooting.
The Under is 6-4 in Illinois’ last 10 games as the road team.
Betting on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (odds)
Record: 15-9 Overall/9-5 Conference
Harper and the Scarlet Knights bagged a big win last Saturday, as they beat the No. 14 Wisconsin Badgers on the road, 73-65. That makes it three wins in a row for Rutgers, who have also recently defeated the Michigan State Spartans and the Ohio State Buckeyes. That’s quite a collection of victims of late for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers is being led by Harper, who found a way to score 21 points against Wisconsin. Harper must be so eager to face Illinois again, as he hopes to make up for his cold performance in the first meeting this season against Cockburn and company. On the season, Harper is putting up 15.7 points per game, while also shooting over 41 percent from behind the arc. Speaking of which, Rutgers has been stroking it well from deep in conference play. The Scarlett Knights are third in the Big Ten with a 38.5 3-point shooting percentage. Rutgers went 7/17 on their threes in the loss to the Fighting Illini.
Rutgers is 4-0 against the spread in its last four games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
Illinois wins, 70-66.
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