Free NCAA Hoops Pick: Fighting Illini vs. Wildcats CBB Odds
Looking for Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Northwestern Wildcats NCAA basketball free picks & CBB odds? CBB betting sees the Fighting Illini taking on the Wildcats on Wednesday, January 4th Welsh-Ryan Arena, Evanston. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all college basketball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NCAA basketball predictions like this Fighting Illini Wildcats matchup.
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2022 NCAA Basketball Handicapping
- (9-4) Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Northwestern Wildcats (10-3)
- Date: Wednesday, January 4th
- Time: 9:00 ET
- Venue: Welsh-Ryan Arena, Evanston
- CBB Moneyline Odds: Fighting Illini -146 | Wildcats +119
- NCAAB Betting ATS Odds: Illinois -2.5 | Northwestern +2.5 (Bet Now!)
- CBB Betting Total: O/U 132.5
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- Scroll down for our Illinois vs Northwestern free pick
Illinois Fighting Illini
Through 13 games, Illinois has an 9-4 overall record. Out of 5 games road games this season, the Fighting Illini have a record of 2-3. In 10 games as the favorites, the Fighting Illini have gone 7-3 straight up. In today’s matchup, Illinois has a betting line set at -2.5 points in their favor. Illinois currently has a record of 0-2 in Big Ten action. In non-conference games, the team has a mark of 9-2.
Coming into the game, Terrence Shannon Jr. is the team leader in scoring, averaging 17.77 points per game. In addition to his scoring, Jr. is grabbing 5.38 rebounds and adding 2.92 assists. Illinois’ second leading scorer is Dain Dainja, who has hit 74.7% of his field goal attempts and is averaging 10.69 points per game.
Offensively, the Fighting Illini come into the game as an above-average unit, averaging 75.8 points per game, good for 66th in the NCAA. Illinois’ offensive attack is heavily reliant on getting the ball inside, as 57.36% of their shots have come inside the arc. So far, the team is ranked 131st in overall field goal percentage at 45.3%. When the Fighting Illini have taken 3-point shots, they are hitting 36.7% of their looks.
In terms of pace, Illinois is below the NCAA average in possessions per game, averaging just 66.9 per contest, placing them just 506th in college basketball. Currently, the team is one of the better rebounding teams in the country, at 38.5 rebounds per contest. This figure includes 11.5 offensive boards per game.
Northwestern Wildcats
As they head into their 14th game of the season, Northwestern currently holds a 10-3 record. Currently, Northwestern has been the home team 11 times, sitting with a record of 8-3. After a year in which they went 2-12 as the betting underdog, the Wildcats will not be the favorite for the first time this season. They are +2.5 point underdogs on the spread. Northwestern currently has a record of 1-1 in Big Ten action. In non-conference games, the team has a mark of 9-2.
Coming into the game, Chase Audige is the team leader in scoring, averaging 15.38 points per game. In addition to his scoring, Audige is grabbing 3.38 rebounds and adding 3.23 assists. Northwestern’s second-leading scorer is Boo Buie, who has hit 34.8% of his field goal attempts and is averaging 13.85 points per game.
The Wildcats’ offense heads into the game ranked 148th in the NCAA at 73.0 points per contest. Northwestern’s offensive attack is heavily reliant on getting the ball inside, as 61.31% of their shots have come inside the arc. So far, the team is ranked 305th in overall field goal percentage at 42.7%. When the Wildcats have taken 3-point shots, they are hitting 34.7% of their looks.
In terms of pace, Northwestern is below the NCAA average in possessions per game, averaging just 68.1 per contest, placing them just 433rd in college basketball. Currently, Northwestern’s 35.5 rebounds per contest is one of the lower figures in the NCAA. So far, the Wildcats are averaging 9.6 offensive boards per game.
CBB Betting Trends
- Illinois is 2-3 vs the spread in their last 5 games. The Fighting Illini are 3-2 straight up in these matchups.
- Illinois is 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games on the road, going 6-4 SU.
- The Fighting Illini are 2-1 SU in their last 3 games as the favorite. They are 1-2 vs the spread in these contests.
- The Wildcats are 1-2 SU in their last 3 games as the underdog. They are 2-1 vs the spread in these contests.
Free Illinois Fighting Illini vs Northwestern Wildcats NCAAB Prediction:
Free Spread Prediction: Illinois Fighting Illini -2.5
If you are eying this matchup between Northwestern Wildcats and Illinois Fighting Illini as a candidate to place a bet, we have done the work for you and our model recommends taking Illinois to cover the spread as -2.5 favorites on the road. Although both teams are going to look to get up shots from outside, we see Illinois shooting well enough to keep the Wildcats at bay. Before tip-off, lock in a bet on the Fighting Illini’s to win the game and cover the spread.
Free CBB Betting Pick: Illinois ATS
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