Wisconsin vs. Illinois Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

• February 6, 2021
• By David Schwab
• VegasInsider.com

In a head-to-head tilt between ranked teams in the Big Ten, the No. 19 Wisconsin Badgers face the No. 12 Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center. Saturday afternoon’s tip is slated for 2:30 p.m. (ET).

BETTING RESOURCES

• Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
• Conference: Big Ten
• Venue: State Farm Center
• Location: Champaign, Illinois
• Date: Saturday, February 6, 2021
• Time: 2:30 p.m. (ET)
• TV: FOX
• Bet: BetMGM | FanDuel | FOXBet |DraftKings | Best Sportsbooks

WHERE TO BET WISCONSIN-ILLINOIS

• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Michigan
• West Virginia
• Virginia
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• Colorado

Wisconsin-Illinois Betting Odds

Line Movements

• Spread: Illinois -3
• Money-Line: Illinois -180 Wisconsin +160
• Total: 136.5

Odds Subject to Change

The opening spread favors Illinois at home by three points with the betting line for the total opening at 136.5 points.

The Badgers are 8-4 SU in conference play with Tuesday’s 14-point rout of Penn State at home. They have covered in four of their last six games. The total has stayed UNDER in six of their last eight contests.

Wisconsin’s SU 15-game winning streak over Illinois came to an end last season. It has covered ATS in four of the last six meetings.

Tuesday’s four-point win against Indiana as a three-point road favorite was the Fighting Illini’s third victory in a row both SU and ATS. They are 8-3 (SU and ATS) in Big Ten play. The total went OVER 142 points in that game after staying UNDER in six of their previous seven outings.

Illinois is 11-2 SU in its last 13 home games. The total has stayed UNDER in five of the last six games at home.

Betting Analysis – Wisconsin Badgers

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 14-5
• ATS: 9-9-1
• SU - Home: 11-2
• SU - Away: 3-3
• O/U: 10-9

Wisconsin lost to Penn State on the road by 10 points prior to dominating the rematch at home this past Tuesday. Freshman guard Johnathan Davis scored a career-high 17 points to pace the win.

Guard D’Mitrik Trice continues to lead the Badgers in scoring with 13.3 points a game while shooting 42.3% from the field. He also leads in assists with 3.9 a game. Forward Micah Potter is second on that list with 12.3 points and he leads the team in rebounds with 6.6 a game.

Wisconsin is averaging 71.9 points per game and pulling down 35.1 rebounds. It is shooting 43.8% from the field and 37.6% from three-point range.

Defensively, the team is allowing an average of 62.5 PPG. It has not allowed more than 56 points in each of its last four victories.

Betting Analysis – Illinois Fighting Illini

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 12-5
• ATS: 10-6-1
• SU - Home: 8-2
• SU - Away: 4-3
• O/U: 10-7

Illinois has a half-game lead over Wisconsin in the Big Ten standings with Michigan leading the way at 8-1. The Fighting Illini needed overtime to get their eighth conference win of the season on Tuesday against Indiana.

Ayo Dosunmu is averaging 21.2 PPG as part of a trio of players scoring in double figures. The junior guard has eclipsed that average in three of his last five starts although he was held to just 10 points against the Hoosiers while shooting a dismal 18.2% from the field.

The Fighting Illini are averaging 82.2 points a game as a team and shooting 50.1% from the field. That number drops to 39.7% from beyond the three-point line.

They are pulling down an average of 40.2 rebounds a game while holding opposing teams to 69.4 PPG.

Inside the Stats – Wisconsin Badgers

• PS/G: 71.9 (174th)
• PA/G: 62.5 (24th)
• Off Rtg: 108 (68th)
• Def Rtg: 93.8 (58th)

Inside the Stats – Illinois Fighting Illini

• PS/G: 82.2 (18th)
• PA/G: 69.4 (157th)
• Off Rtg: 113.7 (18th)
• Def Rtg: 95.9 (104th)

Key Players to Watch

• WIS - D'Mitrik Trice (13.3 PPG)
• WIS - Micah Potter (12.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG)
• ILL - Ayo Dosunmu (21.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 4.6 APG)
• ILL - Kofi Cockburn (16.8 PPG, 10.2 RPG)

Wisconsin-Illinois Predictions

Illinois is more than impressive on paper. However, Wisconsin has completely dominated this series over the years up until last season’s loss. This creates an excellent opportunity to bet the Badgers on the road this Saturday afternoon using the money line in another SU win.

Both of Illinois’s two losses in its last 13 homes games happened this season.

I would also go with the UNDER when betting the total line behind some strong betting trends for each team in recent games. It also helps that the Badgers are playing at a high level at that end of the court.

• Score Prediction: Wisconsin 68 Illinois 63
• Best Bets: Wisconsin +3
• Best Bets: UNDER

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