The 22nd-ranked Michigan Wolverines look to improve to 14-0 at Crisler Center on Sunday when they face slumping Illinois in Big Ten betting action.
And history tells us that Illinois will not cover the spread here as they are 1-10 ATS in their past 11 visits to UM.
Of note, the past five meetings between these teams have played UNDER the total, which sat at 119.5 at Sportsbook early Sunday.
Odds Shark experts have UM covering the college basketball point spread here today against an Illini team that has lost 5 of 6 overall.
View Illinois vs Michigan Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
The Wolverines were listed as 5.5-point favorites at most sportsbooks such as Sportsbook. The total of 119.5 opened at shops such as Sportsbook.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
This game puts the Wolverines, most recently No. 135 in the Odds Shark power rankings, up against the Fighting Illini, who rate No. 88 in the latest survey. Meanwhile, math and computer-based handicapping simulations run on this game predict a potential 70-69 victory for the Wolverines.
How They Match Up:
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and Michigan has the nation's No. 201-rated offensive output, at 66.8 PPG. The visiting Fighting Illini defense ranks No. 64 allowing on average 62.3 PPG. The Wolverines FG% has averaged 46% so far, more than the Fighting Illini marksmen have achieved on the year, 45.1% per game.
Defensively, Illinois features the nation's No. 120-rated defense on the road, allowing 68 points per game. Michigan, meanwhile, comes in at No. 242 nationally in scoring at home.
Illinois was an 84-71 loser in its last match on the road against Indiana. They failed to cover the 5.5-point spread as underdogs. D.J. Richardson scored 19 points in a futile effort to lead the Fighting Illini to a win (they lost 84-71 to Indiana at Branch McCracken Court at Assembly Hall on Thursday).
Michigan was a 62-46 Sportsbook in its last match on the road against Nebraska. They covered the 3-point spread as favorites. The Wolverines grabbed a 62-46 win over the Cornhuskers on Wednesday, behind a 14-point effort from Zack Novak at Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Illinois Fighting Illini Trends:
When playing on Sunday are 9-1
Before playing Purdue are 6-4
After playing Indiana are 7-3
After a loss are 7-3
Michigan Wolverines Trends:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Ohio State are 6-4
After a win are 5-5
A few Fighting Illini at Wolverines trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Illinois's last 6 games on the road
Illinois is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Illinois is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Illinois is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Michigan
Michigan is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Michigan's last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Michigan's last 5 games when playing Illinois
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Michigan's last 10 games
Next up:
Illinois home to Purdue, Wednesday, February 15
Michigan home to Ohio State, Saturday, February 18
