Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Maryland Terrapins Predictions, Picks, Odds

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Friday night’s college basketball betting action on FS1 gets underway with a Big Ten tilt between the No. 17 Illinois Fighting Illini and the Maryland Terrapins. Game time from XFINITY Center in College Park is set for 7 p.m. (ET).

SCORE PREDICTION

Illinois 78, Maryland 70

BEST BETS

Illinois -7.5 (-110) at BetMGM

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI VS. MARYLAND TERRAPINS PREDICTIONS

Monday’s eight-point loss to Purdue as slight 1.5-point home favorites snapped a straight-up six-game winning streak for the Fighting Illini. This was also their first loss in Big Ten play against six previous SU victories. They are battling Wisconsin and Michigan State at the top of the conference standings. Illinois is 13-4 SU overall.

Maryland has fallen back into its losing ways with recent setbacks against Rutgers at home and Michigan on the road this past Tuesday. The Terrapins closed as 7.5-point underdogs against the Wolverines in that lopsided 19-point loss. They are now at the rock bottom of the Big Ten standings at 1-6 SU. This is part of an overall record of 9-9.

The loss to Purdue combined with Maryland’s current playing form sets up an excellent opportunity to bet Illinois on the road this Friday night. It is hard to see the Fighting Illini lose two straight against a team it should be able to beat with relative ease. They responded with a SU five-game winning streak following an early-season two-game skid against Marquette and Cincinnati.

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI VS. MARYLAND TERRAPINS BETTING ODDS

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ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI VS. MARYLAND TERRAPINS BETTING RESOURCES

Matchup: Big 10
Date: Friday, January 21, 2022
Venue: XFINITY Center
Location: College Park, Maryland
TV-Time: FS1 - 7:00 p.m. ET

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI BETTING ANALYSIS

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

SU: 13-4
ATS: 9-8
O/U: 11-6

Going back to a late-November victory against Notre Dame, Illinois has been able to cover against the spread in eight of its last 11 outings. This includes a 76-64 win at home against Maryland on Jan. 6 as an 11.5-point favorite. The Fighting Illini are 5-2 ATS in conference play with the total staying UNDER in three of their last five games overall.

Center Kofi Cockburn continues to lead the team in both points (21.1) and rebounds (11.8) a game. When any player at the college ranks can average a double-double, they belong in elite company. Guard Alfonso Plummer has also been a big part of this offense with 16.4 points per game. He is shooting 45.6% from the field and 40.9% from three-point range.

Guards’ Trent Frazier and Jacob Grandison have combined to average 24.8 PPG to round out the bulk of the scoring for Illinois. Frazier leads the team in assists with 3.5 a game. Grandison has been the hottest shooter with a 48.9 shooting percentage from the field and 47.3% from outside the three-point line.

The Fighting Illini are hitting 46.6% of their shots from the field. They are converting on 38.1% of their three-point attempts and 72.9% of their foul shots. As one of the higher scoring teams in the nation, it all adds up to 80.2 PPG. Illinois is also high on the list in total rebounds with 42.8 a game. Defensively, it is allowing an average of 66.1 PPG.

MARYLAND TERRAPINS BETTING ANALYSIS

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

SU: 9-9
ATS: 6-12
O/U: 8-10

Somebody has to be a bottom feeder in the Big Ten and this season Maryland fits the bill. The Terrapins started the season with five SU wins in their first six games. However, as the competition became tougher, the losses started to pile up. Through seven conference games, they have failed to cover in five of those contests. The total has gone OVER in five of Maryland’s last seven games.

Guard Eric Ayala remains one bright spot for Maryland in a season that has not gone as planned. He leads the team with 16.3 PPG while shooting 39.9% from the field and 35.9% from three-point range.

Guard Fatts Russell (12.4 points) and forward Donta Scott (12.3 points) round out the top three scorers in the lineup. Scott leads the way in rebounds (6.7) and Russell is dishing out a team- high four assists a game. Guard Harkim Hart (9.7 points) is the team’s most consistent shooter with a 52.5 field goal percentage.

The Terrapins are scoring an average of 70.5 points a game while shooting 42.7% from the field. This number drops to 31.4% from three-point range with a 73.9 shooting percentage from the free throw line. Maryland is pulling down 37.3 rebounds a game and its points-allowed average on defense is 69.8.

**Illinois has covered the spread in five of its last seven games. (AP)**

INSIDE THE STATS - ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI

Record: 13-4
VI Ranking: 17
PS/G: 80.2 (23rd)
PA/G: 66.1 (107th)
ORtg: 114.2 (19th)
DRtg: 94.1 (90th)

INSIDE THE STATS - MARYLAND TERRAPINS

Record: 9-9
VI Ranking: 64
PS/G: 70.5 (213th)
PA/G: 69.8 (208th)
ORtg: 101.8 (193rd)
DRtg: 100.7 (238th)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

ILL: Kofi Cockburn - C (21.1 ppg, 11.8 rpg)
ILL: Alfonso Plummer - G (16.4 ppg)
MARY: Eric Ayala - G (16.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
MARY: Donta Scott - F (12.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg)

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI VS. MARYLAND TERRAPINS BETTING CONCLUSION

Friday night’s game should remain a bit closer than the first meeting this season with Maryland playing at home. However, Illinois should still get the win both SU and ATS.

The Fighting Illini are just 3-7 SU in their last 10 games against the Terrapins, so this is an excellent chance to improve that stat. The series is tied at 5-5 ATS in that same span of games with the total staying UNDER or ending as a PUSH in seven of those 10 contests.

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI VS. MARYLAND TERRAPINS BETTING TRENDS

Illinois has covered the spread in five of its last seven games.
Maryland has failed to cover the spread in two straight games.
Maryland has failed to cover the spread in nine of its last 11 home games.

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Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson