Wisconsin vs. Illinois Prediction
Number fourteen Wisconsin heads to Champaign to face unranked Illinois at 1:30 PM ET Saturday afternoon on ESPN2. Can the Fighting Illini cover the 6.5-point spread as home favorites?
Wisconsin is 11-2 on the year with their best wins coming over Maryland and Iowa. Their only losses came against Kansas and Wake Forest. The Badgers are 8-5 against the spread this season.
Illinois is 9-5 this season with their best wins coming over UCLA and Texas. Their worst losses came against Penn State and Missouri. The Fighting Illini are 6-7-1 against the spread this year.
Game Matchup and Betting Odds
627 Wisconsin Badgers (+6.5) vs. 628 Illinois Fighting Illini (-6.5); O/U 131.5
1:30 PM ET, Saturday, January 7, 2023
State Farm Center, Champaign, IL
Wisconsin vs. Illinois Public Betting Information
Our CBB Public Betting Information page indicates that the public favors the Badgers in this contest. Our public betting data illustrates that 60% of public bets are on Wisconsin +6.5. Do note that these numbers are subject to change and could be different once tipoff rolls around, so be sure to check the link so you’re receiving the most up-to-date public betting data.
Wisconsin Game Notes
The big story of this game is the injury status of Wisconsin’s leading scorer Tyler Wahl. Wahl left the Badgers’ last game with an ankle injury and he’s officially listed as questionable ahead of Saturday’s game against Illinois. Wahl is averaging 13.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game for Wisconsin this year and his status will have a big impact on the outcome of this contest.
Wisconsin guard Chucky Hepburn will likely need to produce if Wisconsin is going to cover this game. The 6’2” sophomore guard from Omaha is averaging 12.2 points per game while shooting an extraordinary 50.9% from three-point land this year. He’ll likely need to hit multiple treys for Wisconsin to cover on Saturday.
Illinois Game Notes
Illinois’ leading scorer is Texas Tech transfer Terrence Shannon Jr. The 6’6” senior guard from Chicago is posting 17.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting 45.1% from the floor this year.
The Fighting Illini’s second-leading scorer is 6’9” sophomore forward Dain Dainja. Dainja is a Baylor transfer that’s averaging 10.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game for Illinois this year. He’s been incredibly efficient on the offensive end, sinking an excellent 74.1% of his shots from the field on the season. Illinois will likely need the inside-outside combo of Dain Dainja and Terrence Shannon Jr. to score and rebound if they’re going to topple Wisconsin this weekend.
Wisconsin vs. Illinois CBB Betting Trends
Wisconsin is 3-7 ATS in their last 10 Saturday games.
Wisconsin is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS loss.
Illinois is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games.
The favorite is 19-7-1 ATS in the last 27 meetings between Wisconsin and Illinois.
Wisconsin vs. Illinois State CBB Prediction:
The key storyline for this contest is the health status of Wisconsin forward Tyler Wahl. Wahl left the Badgers’ last game with an ankle injury and he missed practice on Thursday. It’s looking likely that Wahl is going to miss this game. That matters for Wisconsin because he’s their leading scorer, but he’s also second on the team in rebounding and third in steals. The line appears to reflect the fact that Wahl won’t play.
Illinois on the other hand has an average point differential of +12.5 overall and +25.9 at home this season. I think the Fighting Illini make the most of an opportunity to beat a Wisconsin team that already doesn’t score a lot (218th in the country in points per game) and who’s missing their best player. I’ll fade the public and lay the points with Illinois.
CBB BETTING PREDICTION: ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI -6.5
