Unranked Northwestern heads to Champaign to face #17 Illinois on Sunday afternoon. The game is at 3:00 PM ET on the Big Ten Network. Can Illinois cover the 7.5-point spread as home favorites? Keep reading for our Northwestern vs. Illinois prediction.
The Northwestern Wildcats are 12-7 straight up in the regular season this year. They are 11-7-1 ATS this season.
The Illinois Fighting Illini are 13-6 straight up in the regular season this year. They are 9-10 ATS this season.
Northwestern vs. Illinois Matchup & Betting Odds
849 Northwestern Wildcats (+7.5) at 850 Illinois Fighting Illini (-7.5); o/u 147.5
3:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, January 26, 2025
State Farm Center, Champaign, IL
TV: Big Ten Network
Northwestern vs. Illinois Public Betting Information
Our CBB Public Betting Information page indicates that 58% of public bettors are currently backing Northwestern when it comes to the spread. This information is subject to change throughout the day, however, so be sure to check the link so you’re receiving the most up-to-date public betting data.
Northwestern Wildcats Game Notes
Wildcats guard Ty Berry was electric off the bench in his team’s 79-70 win over Indiana on Wednesday night. In 32 minutes, the senior from Newton, KS recorded 23 points, 7 rebounds, an assist, a steal, and 2 blocks. Berry shot 8 of 13 from the floor and 7 of 10 from beyond the arc in the victory.
Northwestern guard Brooks Barnhizer also played well in his team’s game on Wednesday. The 6’6” senior logged 21 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 steals, and a made three-pointer in 38 minutes. Barnhizer is second on the team in scoring with 18.5 points per game this year.
Illinois Fighting Illini Game Notes
Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivisic will miss Sunday’s contest as he recovers from mono. Ivisic is one of Illinois’ most important players. He is second on the team in scoring with 13.0 points per game and leads the team in rebounding (8.5 rebounds per game) and blocked shots (1.2 blocks per game) this season. Ivisic missed the team’s last game against Maryland, and Illinois lost at home to the Terrapins 91-70 on Thursday night.
With Ivisic out of commission, the Fighting Illini started freshman forward Morez Johnson Jr. against the Terrapins on Thursday. Johnson figures to draw another start against Northwestern on Sunday.
Northwestern vs. Illinois CBB Betting Trends
Northwestern is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games against Illinois.
The Wildcats are 5-3 ATS as an underdog this season.
Illinois is 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Illinois is 3-6 ATS in conference games this season.
Northwestern vs. Illinois CBB Prediction:
Illinois began the season by winning 12 of their first 15 games outright. After starting 12-3, the Fighting Illini have scuffled over the past two weeks, dropping 3 of their last 4 contests straight up. The final defeat of that stretch came without Illinois’ star big man Tomislav Ivisic, who has been ruled out indefinitely with mono. Ivisic is 7’1” 230 pounds and is averaging 13.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the floor this year. He had 15 points and 12 rebounds the last time these two teams played on December 6th in Evanston. Illinois won’t have Ivisic for this contest, and that could hamper their ability to win this game convincingly.
Northwestern is 14-9 ATS as an underdog and 19-10 ATS in conference games since the start of last season. I like the Wildcats to improve both of those records on Sunday. I’m taking Northwestern and the points in this one.