The Illinois Fighting Illini are set to face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Check out our college basketball odds series, which includes our Illinois Rutgers prediction, odds, and pick.
Illinois has done really well this season, better than most people frankly expected. The Fighting Illini enter Wednesday's game half a game in front of Purdue and Wisconsin for the Big Ten lead. The fact that Illinois could lead the Big Ten in mid-February despite losing Ayo Dosunmu to the NBA and the Chicago Bulls is rather remarkable. Coach Brad Underwood went into the transfer portal and got Alfonso Plummer from Utah, a shooter who has been an essential piece of Illinois' productive season. Kofi Cockburn and Andre Curbelo are the main engines of this team, but Plummer and Trent Frazier are also crucial pieces to the puzzle. Illinois has multiple offensive options and, as a result, multliple ways to win games.
Rutgers is playing its best basketball of the year. The Scarlet Knights were a bad team for much of the season, losing to DePaul, Lafayette, UMass, Penn State, Minnesota, and Maryland, but they have reeled off consecutive wins over Ohio State, Michigan State, and Wisconsin to transform the quality of their NCAA Tournament resume and give themselves a real chance of returning to the Big Dance after making it last year. If you want to make an Illinois Rutgers prediction, keep that point in mind.
The Rutgers revival has been built on strong defense. The Scarlet Knights didn't allow Ohio State, Michigan State, or Wisconsin to score more than 65 points. Rutgers used a 10-0 run in the final minutes to stun Ohio State and jump-start this three-game winning streak. The Scarlet Knights have been fearless and excellent in late-game situations. Against Michigan State, they bullied and bloodied the Spartans in a second-half rout. Coach Steve Pikiell, who has done such a good job with the Rutgers program, didn't let his players give up hope midway through the season. The Minnesota loss from a few weeks ago was particularly bad because Minnesota was short three players in that game. Rutgers couldn't beat a very limited version of what was already a mediocre Golden Gopher squad. Things have changed very quickly and very profoundly. College basketball odds analysts would tell you that when making an Illinois Rutgers pick, you can't think about early January anymore. This team has moved beyond its failures.
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Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Illinois-Rutgers odds:
College Basketball odds: Illinois-Rutgers Odds
Illinois: -4 (-110)
Rutgers: +4 (-110)
Over: 135.5 (-110)
Under: 135.5 (-110)
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Why Illinois Could Cover the Spread
The Illini are a balanced team with a versatile starting five. Rutgers has no answer for Kofi Cockburn, but even if he struggles, the Illini have other players who are fully capable of stepping up.
Why Rutgers Could Cover the Spread
The Scarlet Knights are so tough to beat in their home building. Combine that with the fact that they are on a roll and playing well, getting four points seems like something Rutgers should be expected to cover. It's not merely a hope or a prayer.
Final Illinois-Rutgers Prediction & Pick
Rutgers is in a groove. It can smell the NCAA Tournament. If Illinois does win outright, it will be very close. Rutgers won't let the Illini create a large working margin.
Final Illinois-Rutgers Pick: Rutgers +4
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