The two Big Ten schools in Illinois are headed in completely opposite directions as they meet for a second time this season on Tuesday night. The No. 5 Illinois Fighting Illini (14-5, 10-3) have won five straight, while the Northwestern Wildcats (6-12, 3-11) have lost 11 in a row. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network from State Farm Center in Champaign.
Illinois is -13 at home, and the total is 143 points. The teams met on January 7 in Evanston, and Northwestern led by 15 before Illinois finished the game on a 53-13 run to win 81-56. Illinois leads the overall series 139-42 with a 70-14 mark in Champaign, and they have won five in a row against the Wildcats.
Northwestern Struggling to Keep Up
The Wildcats are 7-9-1 ATS this season, and the over is 10-7 in their 17 games. They are just 1-7 on the road, with the only win coming at Indiana in December. During their 11-game losing streak, they have been outscored by an average of 12.8 points per game.
On Saturday, they lost at No. 23 Rutgers 64-50 as they shot just 32.7 percent from the field and were outrebounded by 12. Guards Chase Audige and Anthony Gaines each scored 11 points in the loss.
Audige leads the Wildcats in scoring at 12.8 points per game, just ahead of forward Miller Kopp at 12.4 points. Forward Pete Nance leads the team in rebounding with 6.8 per game, and he’s added 11.8 points per game.
In the loss against Illinois in January, forward Robbie Beran led the team with 11 points while Nance and center Ryan Young had nine each. The Wildcats were beat on the glass by 12 and shot 33 percent in the loss.
Illini’s Dynamic Duo Leads the Way
The Illini are 11-7-1 ATS, and the over is 10-8-1 in their 19 games. The orange and blue have posted a 9-2 record at State Farm Center with consecutive losses to Maryland and Ohio State in mid-January.
Brad Underwood’s offense ranks 11th in the nation in shooting (50.2%), 17th in 3-point field-goal percentage (39%), 13th in rebounding (37.4 rebounds per game), and 21st in scoring (81.6 points per game). The defense is holding the opposition to 40.7 percent shooting, and the Illini are +10 in rebounds per game against their opponents.
Guard Ayo Dosunmu, a Wooden Award candidate, leads the Illini with 21.7 points per game while also averaging 6.2 rebounds per game and 5.1 assists per game. Center Kofi Cockburn is averaging a double-double at 17.4 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per game. The 7-footer is second in the country with 14 double-doubles and one of just three players in a major conference averaging a double-double this season.
In the first meeting, Cockburn led the way with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Dosunmu (14), Guard Trent Frazier (14), and freshman guard Adam Miller (14) were also in double figures scoring-wise. After a slow start, the Illini made 11-of-27 from 3-point range but finished the game with 15 turnovers. Ayo 15, Miller 14, Trent 14.
Betting Line and Pick
Illinois -13. Total 143
Northwestern is just 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 games against a winning team, and they are 3-7 covering against Illinois over the last five years. Northwestern doesn’t have an answer for Cockburn, and they cannot stay with the Illini on the glass. Look for Illinois to knock down shots early, and if they stay away from the turnovers, this one will get out of hand.
PICK: Illinois -13
Keep up with your latest sports news coverage and betting pick previews at NJ SportsBook.