Big Ten foes will collide when the Illinois Fighting Illini (10-11) play the Wisconsin Badgers (12-9) at State Farm Center. Action begins at 7:30 pm ET on Sunday, Jan. 31 and can be seen on BTN.
The Fighting Illini are hoping to rebound after their 68-63 loss to Ohio State on Thursday. Kendrick Nunn was the game’s leading scorer with 24 points. The Badgers, meanwhile, are coming off an 82-79 win against Indiana on Tuesday. Nigel Hayes led the game in scoring by accounting for 31 points on 7-for-12 shooting.
Ethan Happ and Hayes have upped their production over the last five games for the Badgers. Happ has averaged 17.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 2.6 steals, and 0.8 blocks during that stretch, while Hayes has put up 21.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 1.2 three-pointers.
Wisconsin is a slim one-point favorite over Illinois. The matchup has an estimated Over/Under (O/U) of 136 points. The Fighting Illini have gone 10-11 Straight Up (SU) and 7-9-3 Against The Spread (ATS). Illinois is one of the most disciplined teams in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.38.
As for their opponent, the Badgers have records of 9-12 ATS and 12-9 SU. The Badgers allow just 65.2 points per game, ranking them 41st in the nation. Taking care of the basketball is something the Badgers do very well, averaging just 11.3 turnovers per game.
These conference foes will be squaring off for the first time this season. In their most recent meeting a season ago, Wisconsin came out on top, bumping its SU record over their most recent meetings to 8-2. The Badgers also lead the matchup ATS with a record of 8-2. Wisconsin held the edge in field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers three times, while Illinois was never able to do so in their most recent five games.
Predictions: SU Winner – Wisc, ATS Winner – Wisc, O/U – Over
Notes
Illinois is 4-8-3 ATS in its last 15 games.
Illinois is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games.
Illinois is 2-6-3 ATS in its last 11 games at home.
Illinois is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games at home.
Illinois is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Wisconsin.
Illinois is 1-6-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing at home against Wisconsin.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Illinois’s last 5 games when playing at home against Wisconsin.
Illinois averages 73.7 points per game, placing the team just 173rd in the nation. Wisconsin ranks 41st in points allowed, giving up 65.2 points per game.
Wisconsin won its last game by a three-point margin. In games decided by a margin of three points or less, Illinois is 1-2. Wisconsin is 3-5 in close games this season.
The Wisconsin Badgers average a field goal percentage of 42.8% this season. The Illinois Fighting Illini have split their games this season (8-8) when opponents have a FG% of 42.8% or greater.
The Illinois Fighting Illini rank lower for their field goal percentage (216th) than they do for their effective field goal percentage (169th), but the Wisconsin Badgers have a better FG% ranking (242nd) than eFG% ranking (269th).
Illinois ranks 35th in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.38. Wisconsin is ranked lower at 225th with an A/TO of .97.
On average, Illinois makes 5.3 steals per game. Wisconsin has a winning 7-3 record when it gives up at least 5 steals.
