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Illinois vs Duke Prediction, Picks and Odds for Feb 22: Back Blue Devils, Cooper Flagg Over 19.5+ Points
- We like Duke to cover t+he 8.5-point spread vs Illinois.
- Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg is a good bet to top 19.5 points.
- Make bank with our top NCAAB picks! Join with our promo code HUDDLE125.
Illinois vs Duke College Basketball Best Bets
Let’s change things up with a February non-conference game at Madison Square Garden on Saturday in just the second meeting between the Illinois Fighting Illini and Duke Blue Devils in the last 17 seasons. Not surprisingly, the ACC-leading and No. 3-ranked Blue Devils are favored at BetUS Sportsbook.
Duke (+450) is second behind only Auburn in the odds of winning March Madness, while Illinois is tied for 25th at +8000.
With Duke at No. 2 in the NCAA NET rankings, this feels like a more important game for an Illinois team trying to remain in the top 20 in the NCAA NET rankings and avoid becoming a March Madness bubble team.
Illinois vs Duke Prediction Today
Illinois appeared to be trending in the right direction after wins over Minnesota and UCLA. However, the Fighting Illini fell by 14 points to Michigan State and by 21 to Wisconsin in the last two games.
It’s hard to have much confidence in Illinois as it heads to the Big Apple to face National Player of the Year front-runner Cooper Flagg and the Blue Devils. When making your college basketball picks, go with Duke to cover and win outright.
Illinois vs Duke How To Watch
- Game: Illinois (17-10) vs Duke (23-3)
- Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 22, 8:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
- Illinois vs Duke Live Stream: Fubotv
Find Duke vs Illinois betting trends here.
Top 2 Illinois vs Duke Betting Picks
1. Duke ATS -8.5
Illinois has failed to cover against the NCAAB basketball lines in five of its last six games as the underdog. The last time Illinois was listed as an underdog by more than eight points, Alabama came away with a 100-87 win over the Illini.
Headed to the big city.
📅 Feb. 22
🆚 No. 3 Duke
⏰ 7 p.m. CT
📍 Madison Square Garden, New York City
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/lvb8DGOYbg— Illinois Men’s Basketball (@IlliniMBB) February 21, 2025
Take Duke to win and cover as the 8.5-point favorite.
2. Illinois vs Duke Over 156
This is a tough call, with the college basketball odds total set at 156. The last six times Illinois has been the underdog, the games alternated going over and under the total.
Flagg and the other talented freshmen for Duke should have an extra jump in their step playing at Madison Square Garden. Five of the last seven games for the Blue Devils went over the total, so why not look for that trend to continue? Take the game to land over 156.
Bet On Illinois vs Duke Over 156
Illinois vs Duke Best Player Prop Bet
Duke F Cooper Flagg Over 19.5 points (-143)
Flagg finished in single digits in field-goal attempts four times in his first 10 games. However, the freshman star has been more aggressive as the season has progressed.
The potential first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, freshman forward Cooper Flagg is in the midst of a potent first season at the collegiate level.
With that in mind, what are the best seasons by a freshman men’s college basketball player? We’ve rounded up the 10 best. pic.twitter.com/xASRyRXe5V
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) February 21, 2025
Flagg is averaging 20.3 points over his last four games. Look for him to deliver in this high-profile game. Flagg to go over 19.5 points is one of the college basketball player props you need to consider.
Bet on Cooper Flagg Over 19.5 Points
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets
Questions Of The Day
Which team has a better record against the spread this season, Illinois or Duke?
Duke is 16-10 and Illinois is 12-15 against the spread this season.
What are the records for Illinois and Duke against Quad 1 teams?
Duke is 5-3 in Quad 1 games, compared to a 6-8 record for Illinois.
