Lay Points With Illinois vs Northwestern
This matchup between No.10 Illinois (14-4, 5-2 Big Ten) and Northwestern (13-5,4-3) is intriguing because these programs have already matched up this season. Illinois was the home team and beat Northwestern 96-66, which will undoubtedly affect NCAAB picks today.
In the last game for the Fighting Illini, they beat Rutgers 86-63 and saw leading scorer Terrence Shannon return after missing the previous six games due to off-court issues. On the other hand, the Wildcats lost to Nebraska 75-69, attempting a late-game comeback that fell short.
Illinois vs Northwestern Game Information
1. Game: Illinois (14-4) vs. Northwestern (13-5)
2. Location: Welsh-Ryan Arena, Evanston, IL
3. Day/Time: Wednesday, Jan. 24, 9:00 p.m. ET
4. Illinois vs Northwestern Live Stream: TBS.com
Given that these teams have already played each other this season, that leans NCAAB predictions in favor of Illinois, which won the first matchup by a wide margin. On top of that, Illinois is still working one of its best players back into the rotation.
Illinois vs Northwestern Odds and Spreads
Illinois vs Northwestern Betting Trends
1. Fighting Illini are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
2. Fighting Illini are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite of 13.0 or greater.
3. Wildcats are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games as a home underdog of 13.0 or greater.
4. Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
5. Over is 8-0 in Fighting Illini last 8 games following a straight up win.
6. Over is 6-0 in Wildcats last 6 overall.
7. Over is 6-0 in Fighting Illini last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
8. Over is 5-0 in Wildcats last 5 games as an underdog.
Illinois vs Northwestern ATS Pick: Illinois -3
Talking about what is going on with Shannon is a touchy subject. He was suspended on Dec. 28 by Illinois after being arrested for felony rape charges that allegedly happened in September. That resulted in him missing the last six games before the Fighting Illini faced Rutgers, including the first matchup with Northwestern. Shannon could only return to the court because a judge ruled that the school could no longer suspend him.
Terrence Shannon Jr. SLAM 💪 @IlliniMBB pic.twitter.com/y1XtlPclii
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 21, 2024
That resulted in Shannon playing 28 minutes off the bench, finishing with 16 points and four assists in the win over Rutgers. Shannon helps lean college basketball lines in favor of Illinois. He averages 21.3 points and leads the team in scoring.
On top of that, even without Shannon, the Fighting Illini still had a formidable offense. They are averaging 82.3 points, third in the Big Ten. Furthermore, through seven conference games (six without Shannon), Illinois averages 80.3 points, second in the conference.
Without Shannon, Illinois also stayed afloat in college basketball spreads, covering four of the six games without him. Even over the last 10 games, the Fighting Illini have only failed to cover twice.
Illinois vs Northwestern Over/Under Pick: Over 146½
The over in this game seems like low-hanging fruit for college basketball picks. For one, Illinois has had one of the best offenses in the Big Ten, and that has been without Shannon. Despite his issues off the court, he will only improve the offense, retaking his role as the leading scorer.
Over the last 10 games, the Fighting Illini have hit the over eight times. Northwestern has also had a solid stretch of hitting the over. The Wildcats have hit the over in seven of their last 10 games, doing so in six straight.
Part of that is a defense giving up 77.9 points per game in conference play, ranked 11th. However, Boo Buie is also playing great offensively, averaging 19.7 points through seven Big Ten games.
Illinois vs Northwestern Player Prop Pick: Terrence Shannon Over 15.5 points (-117)
Pushing aside everything that Shannon has possibly done off the court, he is the focal point of Illinois’s offense. Getting him back on the court was a big step for the Fighting Illini’s offense, especially with him looking like he hadn’t missed any time. That should continue against a Northwestern defense that has struggled to stop opposing teams from scoring.
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Illinois vs Northwestern Score Prediction
Questions of the Day
What does Illinois' early win over Northwestern mean for this next matchup?
Illinois, at home, dominated Northwestern earlier this season, winning by 30 points, which leans the odds toward the Fighting Illini.
Will Terrence Shannon’s return boost Illinois’s offense?
Terrence Shannon averages 21.3 points per game and has been absent for six games. In his first game back, it looked like he didn’t miss any time.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
