Free NCAA Hoops Pick: Hawkeyes vs. Fighting Illini CBB Odds
Looking for Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Illinois Fighting Illini NCAA basketball free picks & CBB odds? CBB betting sees the Hawkeyes taking on the Fighting Illini on Saturday, March 13th, 2021 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all college basketball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily basketball predictions like this Hawkeyes Fighting Illini matchup.
2021 NCAA Basketball Handicapping
Big 10 Tournament
(21-7) Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (21-6)
Date: Saturday March 13th, 2021
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
CBB Moneyline Odds: OFF
CBB Betting Odds: Illinois 4
CBB Betting Total: 157
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The Big Ten Final Four could be a preview of one we’ll see in a couple weeks as it features #4 Michigan vs. #9 Ohio State and #3 Illinois vs. #5 Iowa – coincidentally at the sight of the NCAA Final 4 as well.
Iowa was able to get here by outlasting Wisconsin 62-57 last night, their second straight win over the Badgers and 8th in the last 9 overall. Illinois coasted to a 90-68 win over Rutgers in their opening game.
Iowa Hawkeyes
All teams are on 0 days rest in the Big Ten tournament on Saturday, but Iowa’s turnaround is extremely short. They played the late game on Saturday night, then have to get back for a 3:30 ET tip.
Playing so quickly on consecutive days doesn’t give a whole lot of healing time for Joe Wieskamp, who was on the injury list prior to Friday’s game. He played 35 minutes and scored 10 points however.
Iowa got 24 and 9 from Luka Garza to fuel the win over the Badgers. Garza had 21 and 16 rebounds in last Sunday’s win over Wisconsin in his last home game.
We were only treated to this matchup once in the regular season, with Iowa falling 80-75 in Champaign. Garza was held to just 19 points in that game by a sound interior defense for the Illini.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois may have already locked up a #1 seed for next week’s NCAA tournament, but they’ll leave no doubt with another win over the Hawkeyes. The Illini won 11 of 12 to close out the regular season.
Prior to Friday’s Rutgers game, Illinois finished off the regular season with wins over then #25 Wisconsin, then #2 Michigan, and top 10 Ohio State – all on the road. This is a team firing on all cylinders.
Illinois got the wins in Wisconsin and Michigan even while playing without their own POY candidate Ayo Dosunmu. He’s back though, scoring 23 to lead the win over Rutgers.
Dosunmu had 25 in the first meeting against Iowa, outplaying Garza. It was a surprise 24 from Trent Frazier that really fueled the Illini in that game. 7’1 Kofi Cockburn played tremendous post defense and also had 18 points and 8 rebounds.
CBB Betting Trends:
- Hawkeyes are 13-3-2 last 18 neutral site games
- Under is 8-2 in Hawkeyes last 10 overall
- Fighting Illini are 5-0 ATS last 5 overall
- Fighting Illini are 7-3 ATS last 10 as a favorite
Free Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Illinois Fighting Illini NCAAB Prediction:
Illinois might just be too deep here, that’s especially true with Iowa doing the especially quick turnaround of a late game then afternoon tip. Wieskamp may be unavailable, or at least hobbled.
Make no mistake, Iowa is gritty. The Illinois win earlier in the season very could’ve easily been flipped if the game was held in Iowa City instead. Both teams draw to Indianapolis, where 8,000+ fans are in attendance.
4* Free CBB Betting Pick: Illinois -4
The Fighting Illini have the post equalizer in Cockburn, and the X-factor in Dosunmu. That’s an inside-out game that the Hawkeyes have only on their best shooting nights.
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