by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Dec 11, 2021
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Venue: State Farm Center, Champaign, IL
Where to watch: FOX
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Even
BetMGM: Arizona -1.5
Caesars: Even
Season record
No. 11 Arizona: 8-0
Illinois: 7-2
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Arizona - Illinois preview and analysis
The game of the week on the college hardwood features the Arizona Wildcats and Illinois Fighting Illini, and this is the week Illinois takes its rightful place as a top-25 powerhouse.
Illinois comes in winners of five straight, and it's all been because of star big man Kofi Cockburn. In what turned out to be a tough road matchup for the Illini, Cockburn had 17 points and a career-high 18 rebounds in Illinois' 87-83 win at Iowa on Monday.
The junior from Jamaica, who should be getting more hype as an NBA Draft prospect, is averaging 23 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 65.4 percent from the floor and 71.4 percent of his free throws. The only thing he hasn't done is take threes, which give him time, he may learn that one day. Right now, he's a traditional, down-low big man dominating the scene.
The Illini were actually 3.5-point dogs to the home crowd in Iowa and covered for the third straight game; they handled business rather easily against Notre Dame and Rutgers.
Alfonso Plummer has been a perfect complement to Cockburn, averaging 16 points per game while knocking down 37 percent of his 3-pointers. In his last five games, Plummer has gone over 20 points in all five games, including a 30-point performance against Rio Grande Valley on Nov. 28.
The Wildcats are off to a surprising 8-0 start, but their biggest wins are against Wichita State and Michigan in Las Vegas. Arizona, to its credit, has dominated the teams in front of them. This is going to be the 'Cats' toughest challenge this season, and it's hard to think they have an answer for Cockburn and Plummer.
Prediction
Arizona's stats are a little inflated due to the lack of competition. The Wildcats average about 23 assists on nearly 50 percent shooting and get about 6.9 blocks per game. Against a premier team, watch those come crashing down and Illinois taking the throne. Arizona by 14
Betting trends
Arizona is 10-10 ATS in its last 20 road games.
Arizona is 14-14 ATS in its last 28 after scoring 80 or more the previous game.
Illinois is 6-1 ATS in its seven when the home line is +3 to -3.
Projected starting lineup
Arizona:
PG: Kerr Kriisa
SG: Dalen Terry
SF: Bennedict Mathurin
PF: Azuolas Tubelis
C: Christian Koloko
SF: Bennedict Mathurin
PF: Azuolas Tubelis
C: Christian Koloko
Illinois:
PG: Alfonso Plummer
SG: Trent Frazier
SF: DaMonte Williams
PF: Coleman Hawkins
C: Kofi Cockburn
SF: DaMonte Williams
PF: Coleman Hawkins
C: Kofi Cockburn
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
