Illinois vs Wisconsin Betting Odds

No. 22 Wisconsin Looks to Slow Down Surging Illinois

The Illinois Fighting Illini conclude their two-game road swing with a stop at the Kohl Center as they tip off against the No. 22 Wisconsin Badgers. Tonight’s game features two teams trending in opposite directions as Illinois is looking to extend its season-high four-game winning streak, while Wisconsin aims to break out of its two-game slide. The Badgers topped the Illini 72-60 in late January and is an 11-point favorite in tonight’s game with the total Sportsbook at 135 points.

Shark Bites
  • The total has gone UNDER in eight of Wisconsin’s last nine games.
  • Wisconsin is 6-2 SU and ATS in its last eight games.
  • Wisconsin allows the eighth-fewest points per game this season. (61.3)

Illinois vs Wisconsin Game Center

Badgers Aim to End Slide at Two

For the third time this season, Wisconsin enters a game having lost its previous two, but it hasn’t dropped three in a row all year. The back-to-back losses that the Badgers suffered came at then-No. 7 Michigan last Saturday and then fell at home to then-No. 11 Michigan State three days later – so not bad losses. Prior to this recent skid, Wisconsin had been on a six-game winning streak, including a win over then-No. 2 Michigan.

Scoring has been a little hard to come by for the Badgers this year as they are pouring in an average of 70.1 points per game, but that increases to 75 ppg at the Kohl Center. Don’t expect them to pull up from downtown that often as they rank 280th in three-point attempts per game at 19.6. That being said, they have a nice stroke from out there as they hit 39.1 percent of their attempts which is rated as 12th-best in the nation.

Meanwhile, defensively, Wisconsin is surrendering just 61.3 points against per game which are the eighth-fewest in college hoops. It does an OK job limiting shots against, ranking 147th with 57 attempts allowed but is restricting its opponents to a 39.7 shooting percentage which is the 15th-lowest in the nation. Most notably, it holds its foes to just 44.3 percent inside the arc which is the 14th-lowest percentage. Lastly, the Badgers only commit 9.2 turnovers per game ranking second.

Illini playing their best Ball of the season

It took until February for Illinois to start putting all the pieces together as it has rattled off four straight wins for a season-high streak. Included in this current stretch is an impressive 79-74 home triumph over then-No. 9 Michigan on Feb. 5. Additionally, it is coming off its first true road win of the season by topping Ohio State 63-56 last Thursday.

The Illini have done a good job filling the basket this year, scoring 74.4 points per game which is good for 108th-most but that falls to 69.4 ppg on the road. They play a pretty high-tempo pace, averaging 62.1 attempts per game ranking 26th, but only shoot 43.6 percent which is rated at 196th. However, it does a decent job shooting from beyond the arc, hitting 34.3 of their attempts ranking 169th.

Keeping points off the board has been a concern for Illinois, though, as it ranks 237th with 74.8 points allowed per game and that increases to 77.2 ppg in away games. It doesn’t allow that many shots, giving up just 54.3 per game, but its opponents are hitting 46.6 percent of those attempts which is the 58th-highest percentage in the nation. Additionally, its foes are shooting 38.6 percent from beyond the arc in its road games.

Should you be on the UNDER?

Wisconsin is a very strong defensive team, while Illinois has a real difficulty keeping points off the board and Sportsbook has tonight’s total Sportsbook at 135 points. The Badgers have been UNDER machines recently, hitting the UNDER in 10 of their last 12 games with only one game going OVER 135 points.

That being said, the Illini have been strong OVER plays, going OVER in six of their last 10 contests with only two games going UNDER 135 points. These teams tipped off at the State Farm Center on Jan. 23 and played to a combined score of 132. I think Illinois’ offense slows on the road and Wisconsin’s defense is very strong and I think the UNDER is the play.

My take on Illinois vs Wisconsin

I like Wisconsin to cover the 11-point spread. The Badgers are coming off back-to-back losses to a couple of tough ranked teams but they had gone 6-0 SU and ATS before those defeats with an average winning margin of 10.33, including a 12-point road win over Illinois. Wisconsin allows just 61.3 points per game, and Illinois scores five fewer ppg on the road.

Of the Illini’s eight losses in Big Ten play, six have been by double digits for an average losing margin of 10.25. They only hit 43.6 percent of their shot attempts, ranking 196th and the Badgers ranks 15th in opponent shooting percentage at 39.7. Lastly, Wisconsin has the 12th-best three-point percentage in the nation at 39.1 percent and Illinois is allowing its foes to shoot 38.6 percent from beyond the arc in road games.

The total has gone UNDER in eight of Wisconsin’s last nine games.home Wisconsin is 6-2 SU and ATS in its last eight games.home Wisconsin allows the eighth-fewest points per game this season. (61.3)home
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