Illinois vs Wisconsin Predictions and Odds Feb 2
Illinois vs Wisconsin Betting Preview
First place in the Big Ten is on the in tonight’s Illinois vs Wisconsin showdown in Champagne. At the time of posting, the Illini have climbed to a 7-point home favorite over the visiting Badgers, with the total sitting at 136.5 points.
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| Wednesday, February 2 | Big Ten Basketball Betting Notes |
|---|---|
| Point Spread: | Illinois Illini -7 vs Wisconsin Badgers |
| Total: | 136.5 Points |
| Game Time: | 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT |
| Arena: | State Farm Center in Champagne, Illinois |
| TV: | Big Ten Network |
Illinois vs Wisconsin Preview
The Illini and Badgers are are tied for first place in the Big Ten with Michigan State, who is coming off a road win at Maryland last night.
Badgers on the Ball
The Badgers are one of the best at protecting the ball, only averaging eight turnovers per game which is good for No. 2 in the country. Wisconsin is also great at the free throw line averaging over 75% as a team, which is good for top-50 in the country.
The Badgers have remained efficient on both ends of the floor while playing one of the toughest schedules in the country so far. The best player on the floor for them is Johnny Davis, who averages over 21 points per game and just under eight rebounds per game. He’s currently ranked 7th overall for KenPom Player of the Year and the Badgers will need him to pull the upset at Illinois tonight.
The Double-Double Machine
The Illini will look to counter Davis with big man Kofi Cockburn, who averages a double-double on the season (21 ppg, 11 rpg) while shooting 58-percent from the field. Illinois comes in with a team that boasts more experience than the Badgers, led by seniors Alfonso Plummer, Trent Frazier and Jacob Grandison. Not only do the Fighting Illini have a strong inside game, but they shoot it deep as well, ranking 33rd nationally in three-point shooting percentage.
The Illini defense does not force many turnovers, so they’ll have to rely on forcing Wisconsin into missing difficult a lot of difficult shots. We should see a hostile environment in Champaign tonight.
Illinois vs Wisconsin Analysis from GoldSheet
Brad Underwood’s team has dropped games to Arizona and Purdue at Champaign’s State Farm Arena but it took a massive effort by both elite teams to pull off those victories, and Wisconsin isn’t as deep as either of those squads. The Badgers will have to run up against both Kofi Cockburn and Andre Curbelo, who has been cleared to return from COVID protocols, and will be playing for the first time since Jan. 21.
The Badgers have lost only one true road game (Dec. 11, 73-55 at Ohio State) but they’ve failed to cover the number in three-straight contests, getting blown out at Michigan State before struggling with Nebraska and Minnesota. Wisconsin has won its four games outside Madison in 2022, impressively upsetting Purdue to begin the run. Tyler Wahl and 7-footers Steven Crowl and Chris Vogt will look to slow down Kofi Cockburn, who averaged 20 points and 10.5 rebounds on 17-for-26 shooting in a pair of Illinois’ wins over Wisconsin last season.
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College Basketball Stat Sheet
Each day, WagerTalk handicapper Ralph Michaels puts together his College Basketball Stat Sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Check out Wednesday’s sheet, with notes on this Illinois vs Wisconsin contest.
Happy Hour Tip-Off Show
Get your daily fix of college hoops betting information with Joe Raineri and a rotating panel of handicapping guests. The Happy Hour Tip-Off Show will broadcast Monday through Friday at 1:45pm ET / 10:45am PT. Pull up a barstool and join us as we break down tonight’s college basketball card, including this Illinois vs Wisconsin clash, from a sports betting perspective.
WagerTalk Live Odds Screen
WagerTalk’s live odds screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the college basketball point spreads, moneylines, first half lines and betting percentages for all of Wednesday’s NCAAB games, including this Illinois vs Wisconsin showdown, from your desktop or phone.
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