Free NCAA Hoops Pick: Scarlet Knights vs. Fighting Illini CBB Odds
Looking for Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Illinois Fighting Illini NCAA basketball free picks & CBB odds? CBB betting sees the Scarlet Knights taking on the Fighting Illini on Friday, December 3rd, 2021 at State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. 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 Scarlet Knights Fighting Illini matchup.
2021 NCAA Basketball Handicapping
(4-3) Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (5-2)
Date: Friday December 3rd, 2021
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Venue: State Farm Center, Champaign Illinois
CBB Moneyline Odds: Scarlet Knights +300 | Fighting Illini -295
CBB Betting ATS Odds: Fighting Illini -8.5(Bet Now!)
CBB Betting Total: O/U 134
Illinois is trending closer to a return to the top 25, and that trek continues on Friday as Big Ten play gets underway with a visit from Rutgers. The Fighting Illini have suffered a couple of tough losses to Marquette and Cincinnati this season, but they look to be coming into their own.
Rutgers is finding their offense at the right time heading into conference play, as the Scarlet Knights have churned out 83 and 74 points the last two games, two of their three highest scoring games this season. The Scarlet Knights have never won in five trips to Champaign though.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Rutgers represented the conference well this week, knocking off Clemson 74-64 as -1.5 favorites in the Big Ten / ACC Challenge. That snapped a three game losing streak by the Scarlet Knights, who were favored in each of those losses.
Ron Harper, Jr. led the way vs. Clemson with 23 points, with Caleb McConnell adding 16 in by far his highest scoring game of the season. Harper, Jr. has scored in double figures in all seven games this season, and leads Rutgers with 16.1 ppg.
6’11” Clifford Omoruyi is 2nd on Rutgers with 12.0 ppg, but he’s got a much more important task on Friday and that’s stopping Illinois’ 7’0, 285 pound monster Kofi Cockburn. Good luck.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Cockburn tested the NBA waters this offseason but returned to school after being projected only as a 2nd round pick. His stock has definitely went up this year as arguably the most dominant player in the nation. Cockburn has averaged 26.8 ppg this year, which would lead the country if he was eligible.
Cockburn had to sit out a few games to start the year after selling his collegiate merchandise when he thought he was going to enter the NBA. Cockburn has 23, 38, and 28 in his last three games and is also averaging 9.5 rebounds per game.
As good as the Illini big man is, he’s not the only weapon on this team as Alfonso Plummer has 21, 30, and 21 points the last three games. Once Andre Curbelo can return from a neck injury that’s a potent backcourt to go with a dominant interior.
CBB Betting Trends:
- Scarlet Knights are 3-7 ATS last 10 Friday games
- Scarlet Knights are 1-5-1 ATS last 7 overall
- OVER is 4-1 in Scarlet Knights last 5 overall
- Fighting Illini are 1-4 ATS last 5 overall
Free Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Illinois Fighting Illini NCAAB Prediction:
Rutgers beat Illinois 91-88 during the regular season but that was at the RAC where the Scarlet Knights have been one of the best teams in the country the past couple seasons. When the teams met up in the Big Ten tournament, the Illini got revenge in a 90-68 romp.
Illinois had Ayo Dosunmu put in 23 points in the Big Ten tournament game, but he’s off to the NBA (he also had 22 in the regular season matchup). It’s Cockburn that Rutgers has to stop this year, and he went for 17/12 and 18/12 in the two matchups last season.
4* Free CBB Betting Pick: Illinois -8
The Fighting Illini are just too good inside and out, and Harper, Jr. doesn’t get a lot of help from his Rutgers teammates.
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