The No. 12 Illinois Fighting Illini are still hoping to catch the No. 4 Michigan Wolverines atop the Big Ten standings and a win against the No. 19 Wisconsin Badgers surely can help them in that goal. As for the Badgers, a win over Illinois should improve their rankings which has taken a hit due to recent losses. Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Wisconsin Badgers vs Illinois Fighting Illini NCAA College Basketball Game on February 6 2021
Where: State Farm Center, Champaign, IL
When: Saturday, February 6, 2021, 2:30 PM ET
Line: Wisconsin Badgers (odds) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (odds) – view all 2021 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: TBA
Betting on the Wisconsin Badgers (odds)
Record: 13-5 Overall / 7-4 Conference
It’s been an up-and-down experience of late for the Badgers, who have a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at home this Tuesday. After back-to-back wins over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Northwestern Wildcats, Wisconsin lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes (74-62) at home then scored a win over the Maryland Terrapins (61-55) on the road. In their most recent outing, as of this writing, the Badgers fell victims to Penn State. last Saturday, 81-71, on the road. The Badgers haven’t been consistent with their shooting of late, as they have made just 41.7 percent of their shots in the last three games and just 29.3 percent from deep. However, offense isn’t really the rock this Wisconsin team is built upon. Rather’ it’s the Badgers’ defense that is their top-selling point. The Badgers are allowing just 62.8 points per game and just 0.994 points per possession.
Wisconsin is 6-4 against the spread in its last 10 road games.
Betting on the Illinois Fighting Illini (odds)
Record: 11-5 Overall / 7-3 Conference
Illinois is on a sweet two-game win streak heading into a matchup against the Indiana Hoosiers in Bloomington this Tuesday. After losing to the Maryland Terrapins and to the Ohio State Buckeyes in consecutive fashion, the Fighting Illini defeated Penn State (79-65) and the Iowa Hawkeyes, 80-75. That win over the Hawkeyes was a huge one, considering that Iowa is among the top 10 – at least – teams in the nation. Holding the Hawkeyes to only 75 points and 43.1 percent shooting from the field was just another proof of how capable Illinois’ defense is. On the season, the Fighting Illini are limiting opponents to only 40.8 percent shooting from the field and just 0.991 points per possession. Their offense is better, though. The Illini are averaging 82.7 points per game on 50.8 percent shooting from the floor. They are eighth in the nation with a 57.3 effective field goal percentage. It’s not uncommon for Illinois to rule the glass in the Big Ten, as the team is second in the conference with 38.6 rebounds per game.
Illinois is 7-3 against the spread in its last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Illinois wins, 72-69.
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