The #11 Wisconsin Badgers (17-3, 8-2 Big Ten) clash with the #18 Illinois Fighting Illini (15-5, 8-2 Big Ten) in a top 25 battle between Big Ten Conference opponents. Wisconsin is coming off a victory Sunday over the Minnesota Gophers, while the Fighting Illini won over in-state foe Northwestern on Saturday. Wednesday night’s showdown will be the only meeting between these two teams during the regular season.
Wednesday’s tipoff is at 9 p.m. EST inside the State Farm Center in Champaign, IL. Illinois is a 7-point favorite, and the over-under total is currently at 139.5 points.
What to Know – Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin carries a two-game winning streak into the midweek tilt and is tied atop the Big Ten standings with Michigan State and Illinois. The Badgers are 25th in the KenPom rankings and 21st in the NCAA NET.
The Badgers score 72.4 points per game behind 42.2 percent shooting from the field and 32.7 percent from the 3-point line. Wisconsin’s defense limits opponents to 66.4 points per game, 43.6 percent shooting from the floor, and 33.8 percent shooting from the arc.
In the 66-60 victory over the Badgers on Sunday, Wisconsin used a balanced offensive attack to take down Minnesota. Four starters scored in double figures, led by Johnny Davis with 16 points. Davis added a season-high 15 rebounds for his third double-double of the year.
Wisconsin is 12-8 against the spread with a 4-2 record ATS on the road. The Badgers are 1-4 ATS over their previous five games against Illinois.
What to Know – Illinois Fighting Illini
Like the Badgers, the Fighting Illini have won their last two contests and sit in a three-way tie atop the conference standings. Illinois sits in 16th in the KenPom and 14th in the NCAA NET.
Illinois averages 77.2 points per game, shooting 45.8 percent from the floor and 36.9 percent from deep. On defense, the Fighting Illini hold teams to 65.8 points per game, 39.9 percent shooting from the field, and 32.3 percent from three.
Illinois held on to a narrow 59-56 victory on the road over the weekend against the Wildcats, failing to score over 60 points for the second time in as many games. Big man Kofi Cockburn was the only Fighting Illini player in double figures, scoring a game-high 22 points. The Illini connected on only 5-of-18 shots from deep but shot 43.1 percent from the field.
The Fighting Illini are 9-11 ATS and 6-5 ATS on their home court. Illinois is 1-5 ATS over its previous six contests and 1-7 ATS over its last eight games playing Wisconsin at home.
The Pick is In
Illinois has been a tough out at home, winning nine of its 11 games in Champaign. Wisconsin has been great on the road, sporting a 5-1 record away from Madison. The Fighting Illini pull out the victory, but seven points is a lot to be giving the Badgers. Wisconsin keeps this within five points.
Betting Pick: Wisconsin Badgers +7
