Northwestern Wildcats at Illinois Fighting Illini Free Pick - Betting Odds - ATS Prediction
Date:
February 21, 8:00 pm
Location:
State Farm Center
TV:
BTN
Betting Odds
Point Spread:
Northwestern -1.5
Total:
134
<p>
The Illinois Fighting Illini host the Northwestern Wildcats in a Big 10 game that will take place at the State Farm Center at Champaign, Illinois at 8 PM ET. Northewstern has hit the NCAA betting board as a -1.5 point spread favorite with a total line on the move reaching as high as 135 points on most boards after opening at 132.5.
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<p>
Northwestern is coming off a 69-65 win over Rutgers in their last game where they failed to cover the spread as an 11.5-point favorite. The total number of points scored in the game was 134, which was over the closing line of 131. The Wildcats have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five games, including their last two, and in their last two games the total has gone over. Northwestern has won two of their last three games.
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<p>
Illinois is coming off a 70-66 win over Iowa in their last game where they covered the spread as a 4.5-point underdog. The total number of points scored in the game was 136, which was under the closing line of 149.5. The Fighting Illini have covered the spread in two of their last three games and in seven of their last eight games the total has gone under. Illinois has won two of their last three games.
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<p>
Offensively, Northwestern is putting up 73 points per game on a 43.2% FG average. On the defensive side of things the Wildcats are allowing 64.7 points per game on a 39.5% FG average, which ranks 14th in the nation.
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<p>
Illinois is putting up 73 points per game on a 44.7% FG average. On defense the Fighting Illini are allowing 71.2 points per game on a 44.4% FG average.
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<p>
These teams met on February 7th at Northwestern where the Fighting Illini beat the Wildcats 68-61.
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<h2>
Northwestern Wildcats at Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends<br />
</h2>
<ul>
<li>
Northwestern is 1-4 against the spread in their last 5 games overall.
</li>
<li>
The Wildcats are 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 road games.
</li>
<li>
The game total has gone over in 4 of Northwestern’s last 5 road games against Illinois.
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<li>
Illinois is 3-7 against the spread in their last 10 games overall.
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<li>
The Fighting Illini is 5-1 against the spread in their last 6 games against the Wildcats.
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</ul>
<h2>
Public Money Consensus<br />
</h2>
<p>
In this college basketball matchup between Northwestern and Illinois have the public leaning quite heavily to the visiting Wildcats minus the 1.5 points with almost 80%. The over/under bettors are thinking this game will go over the posted total of 134 with 56% on board.
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Northwestern Wildcats at Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction
Illinois knocked off Northwestern on their home court by 7 and now play the rubber match at home at the State Farm Center, but I'm going to side with the visitor. The last two matches for the Wildcats aren't impressive losing at home to Maryland by 10 followed by a small 4-point win over lowly Rutgers. The good news is that top guard Scottie Lindsey returned in the Rutgers match after missing four games and with the rust off should be able to return to form in his second back. Illinois has been an in an outer winning two of their last three winning over today's opponent and Iowa both on the road, but losing by 13 to Penn State at home. They've lost seven of their last ten and are a poor 3-4 as a host in the Big Ten.
Free Pick:
Take the Northwestern Wildcats -1.5
