Big Ten Basketball Predictions – Illinois vs. #13 Wisconsin
by Tim Furious
In their final, regular season game, Wisconsin hammered Illinois to the tune of 72-57. With their Big Ten Tournament hopes hanging in the balance, and the possibility of inching up the national AP Top-25, the Badgers have to come through again on the betting line so that the betting public can have some faith in them. Wisconsin is 6-3-1 ATS when playing Illinois.
The Badgers are now 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS in their past five games and have vanquished the NCAAB betting spread with relative ease lately. The reason for the big surge is because of the return of Jon Leuer, their star player who is averaging 16.4 points in his past four games. With Leuer steadily back in the rotation, Wisconsin is a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten and serving Illinois their asses on a platter will send a message to the rest of the conference that Wisconsin is here to compete.
What will help Wisconsin tremendously is the fact that Illinois is riding a three-game losing streak that has crumbled them to just 1-4 SU and 2-3 ATS in their past 5 games. Even though Illinois earned a victory on Wisconsin’s home court in early February, winning the game 63-56, Leuer was on the sidelines. Wisconsin is 7-3 SU when playing Illinois and with Leuer back in the lineup life has returned to normal.
Illinois Fighting Illini (18-13) vs. Wisconsin Badgers (23-7)
Friday, March 12 th --- Kohl Center --- 2:25pm EST
NCAAB Betting Line: Wisconsin -8.5 (121)
Wisconsin has been getting slapped around in the standings, ranking 13 th in the AP Rankings and just 18 th in the USA Today Rankings. At 13-5 SU in the conference, they’re behind Michigan State, Purdue and Ohio State who all share a piece of the Big Ten title that most experts thought would belong to Wisconsin when the season kicked off.
To earn respect and the faith of betting enthusiasts around the world, Wisconsin will need a big effort in the Big Ten Tournament as we spiral in to the betting hell of March Madness. Eventually the oddsmakers will come to their senses, but nothing tells me that Illinois will be remotely completive against Wisconsin tonight when they hit the hardwood.
A tight TOTAL has me taking the OVER, but only because I feel like Wisconsin is in “statement making” mode. Get out of the way and side with them on the betting line. You won’t regret it.
Furious Free Pick: Wisconsin -8.5 (OVER)
