Free NCAA Hoops Pick: #12 Illini vs. Rutgers CBB Odds
Looking for Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights NCAA basketball free picks & CBB odds? CBB betting sees the Illini take on the Knights on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, NJ. 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 Illini Knights matchup.
2022 NCAA Basketball Handicapping
(18-6) Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (15-9)
Date: Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Jersey Mike’s Arena
CBB Moneyline Odds: Illini -200 / Knights +175
CBB Betting ATS Odds: Illinois -4 / Rutgers +4 (Bet Now!)
CBB Betting Total: O/U 133
The Scarlet Knights are surging up the Big Ten standings and another win against a ranked team has Rutgers full of confidence coming into this home game. Oh, the Illini are in Piscataway and they are the Big Ten leaders making this one highly anticipated meeting on Hump Day!
Rutgers has taken out 3 ranked teams in a row and that has never been done in program history. After taking down Michigan State and Ohio State, the Wisconsin Badgers became the latest victim of the Scarlet Knights and yours truly called for that right here.
I know, I saw it coming too because the Knights are getting hot at the right time and now they get 4th straight chance to wipe out another ranked team.
The Illini are not just another ranked team, however, as the Illinois program is chasing the #1 seed in the Big Ten Conference Tournament that is just around the corner. Ilinois has won 5 of their last 6 games with the lone loss in that mix coming to a solid Purdue program that is in the thick of the chase for that #1 seed. Illinois, Purdue, and Wisconsin are battling for the position, and let’s be honest. The whole damn top 6, which now included Rutgers, are all in contention.
Illinois Fighting Illini
2005 was a long time ago, and a 17-year drought without a Big Ten regular-season title could come to an end in 2022 should the Illini hold on to the top seed in the Big Ten. If you recall, before the chunk of the Big Ten schedule got underway around New Year’s Day, Rutgers and Illinois met way back on December 3. The 86 – 51 drubbing of the Knights had the Illini 6 – 2 at that point of the season and they followed it up with a win over Iowa to boot.
Illinois has won 5 of their last 6 games and they are coming off the win over Northwestern last time out, 74 – 66. The Illini needed the bounce back after the loss to Purdue which tightened up the records of the two teams chasing that #1 seed for the Big Ten tourney.
At the time, the loss to Purdue forced a tie atop of the Big Ten standings, but the Boilermakers suffered a big defeat to Michigan which put Illinois alone on top as they are coming into this affair with Rutgers. Oh, and Purdue barely escaped with their lives against Maryland this past weekend too.
In the win over Northwestern, Illinois jumped out to a 44- 30 halftime lead and really never looked back taking a 73 – 66 victory. Kofi Cockburn came away with 19 points and 15 boards to lead the way for Illinois as he extends his streak of double-digit outings… to every game this year! That 21.4 PPG scoring average is about ridiculous and if you haven’t seen his game yet you are just missing out.
Cockburn has put up 13 double-doubles this season and his presence on the floor is unmistakable. The 7-foot junior from Jamaica takes up plenty of space in the paint and #21 is a major influence on the outcome of these big games. This? Is another big game because the Illini certainly know that Rutgers has earned 3 straight wins over ranked Big Ten opponents.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
It had never been done before this weekend, and the win over Wisconsin sealed the 3-game win streak over ranked opponents. So, now it will take a win over the 12th ranked Illini at home to keep the good vibes in Piscataway.
Make no mistake that this crowd is going to have a major impact on this game with the #1 seeded Illini in town for a huge Big Ten tilt on Wednesday night. Should Rutgers earn this win? Yeah, the floor will be filled with students in red to support their boys on the floor.
Remember now, Rutgers is only 2 games in back of the Illini and another loss to this program would essentially end their chances to sneak their way to the top of the Big Ten. Hey, even saying the words top of the Big Ten is amazing considering that so many pundits left this team for dead after the overtime loss to Northwestern on February 1, 79 – 78.
In the win over Wisconsin, we say early that it was going to be a tight game throughout as Rutgers just kept coming as they chase an at-large bid for the big dance. Should Rutgers not be able to go the distance in the Big Ten tourney, this team still wants to prove that they are tournament-worthy although they will certainly be in one of the post-season tournaments regardless.
While the commentators calling the Wisconsin outing wouldn’t shut up about how amazing Davis and Davison are for Wisconsin, Ron Harper Jr. didn’t give a shit about any of that as he outdid them both! Harper ended the game with 21 points while Davis and Davison combined for only 20 points, and both teams’ bench had zero input as usual. Rutgers subs scored 4 points and the Badgers subs managed a whole 3 points in the game, but we’re used to that by now all around the country.
Four Rutgers started landed double-digt performances and Paul Mulcahy threw down 18 points in 37 minutes with 5 dimes and 5 boards in the win over Wisky. Geo Baker boosted his average to 12.5 PPG with his 16 point effort as the Knights were almost perfect from the line s a team going 16 for 18 from the charity stripe. Baker was 4 of 4 from the line on the night.
CBB Betting Trends:
- Fighting Illini are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
- Scarlet Knights are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games.
- Scarlet Knights are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Over is 6-0 in Fighting Illini last 6 Wednesday games.
- Over is 13-6-1 in Fighting Illini last 20 overall.
Free Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights NCAAB Betting Prediction:
Why does that total say 133? A game that could be a race to 70? Yeah, please! I see Rutgers tking this game 74 – 70 and you can think dog and go over because of it. Sure, you could go ML I suppose but points in the pocket are not a bad option either.
4* Free CBB Betting Pick: Rutgers +4 & Over 133
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