Illinois Fighting Illini vs Wisconsin Badgers Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 02/18/2025

Game Time: 8:30 pm ET, Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Venue:  Kohl Center, Madison, WI

Where to Watch:  Fox Sports 1

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Illinois +3.5, Wisconsin -3.5; Over/Under:  160.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Illinois +3.5, Wisconsin -3.5; Over/Under:  160.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Illinois +3.5, Wisconsin -3.5; Over/Under:  160.5 points

Illinois Fighting Illini:  17-9 (9-7) (7th place, Big Ten)

Wisconsin Badgers:  20-5 (10-4) (4th place, Big Ten)

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Illinois Fighting Illini:  3-2  last 5

Wisconsin Badgers:  4-1  last 5

Illinois is entering this game with a 17-9 record overall, a 9-7 record in conference games, and they are 4-4 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a loss against the Michigan State Spartans in their last game. Morez Johnson Jr. and Kasparas Jakučionis each led the team in points per game in that game with 17 while Will Riley was next on the team with 13. Will Riley led the team in assists with 6 in that game while Tomislav Ivišić and Will Riley each led the team in rebounds with 7. They were 38.1% from the field, 21.2% from 3-point range, and 76.9% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 84.3 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 71.6 PPG against them. Illinois has an ATS record of 12-14 this season and their O/U record is 15-11.

Wisconsin is entering this game with a 20-5 record overall, a 10-4 conference record, and they are 12-1 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a win against the Purdue Boilermakers in their last game. John Tonje led the team in points in that game with 32 while Max Klesmit was next on the team with 17. Max Klesmit led the team in assists with 6 in that game while John Tonje led the team in rebounds with 6. They were 61.5% from the field, 40% from 3-point range, and 75% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 81.5 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 70.5 PPG against them. Wisconsin has an ATS record of 17-8 this season and their O/U record is 15-10.

The current betting odds have Wisconsin listed as a 3.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Wisconsin has looked really good in their games this season with their 20-5 record overall and their 10-4 conference record which has them near the top of the Big Ten. They have looked great on their home court too with their 12-1 home record. Meanwhile, Illinois has looked good in their games this season with their 17-9 record overall and their 9-7 conference record which has them in the top half of the Big Ten. They haven't been a great road team this season with their 4-4 road record. Illinois has been on and off in the rankings all season as they have been a really good team, but they haven't been an elite team in the Big Ten like Wisconsin is shaping up to be. Illinois is 3-2 in their last 5 games, but they are coming off a home loss in their last one and have struggled against some of the better opponents they have faced. They are coming off a home loss to Michigan State and completely collapsed in the final 5 minutes of that game. Wisconsin has some momentum though with 4 wins in a row now and they are coming off a huge road win over Purdue in their last one so they are going to carry that momentum into this one and feed off the crowd at home. Illinois has been good but they are too inconsistent and Wisconsin can take advantage of that at home now that they are rolling. The best way to place a bet here is on Wisconsin to cover the spread in this game. 

Illinois Wisconsin Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Tuesday, February 18, 2025 (8:30 pm ET start time) is Wisconsin 81 Illinois 70.

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Illinois Fighting Illini: 8-2 ATS as a road underdog or pick. 10-5 ATS off an upset loss to a conference rival as a favorite. 34-21 OVER versus good shooting teams - making 45% of their shots or more. 26-15 OVER when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 80%).

Wisconsin Badgers: 2-5 ATS off an upset win over a conference rival as an underdog. 11-18 1H ATS versus teams who average 6 or less steals/game on the season. 20-12 OVER off a win against a conference rival. 11-6 OVER versus up-tempo teams averaging 62 or more shots/game.

Illinois Fighting Illini:  T. Rodgers (G) Out - Redshirt.

Wisconsin Badgers:  J. Robison (F) Questionable - Undisclosed.

"No, that's what they do. That's what they do. They've got a bunch of guys that play. They're deep. They got one guy in double figures, and they go deep." - Brad Underwood after his team’s loss against MSU in their last game. 

"Boy, as a freshman, he comes in and, his first time ever here and on the court. I thought he he responded in a way and had production and impact on the game. What we've seen him do in practice, it just hasn't come out because he hasn't been in that situation." - Greg Gard on Jack Janicki after his team’s win against Purdue in their last game. 

K. Boswell 

B. Humrichous 

T. Ivisic 

K. Jakucionis 

T. White

J. Blackwell 

S. Crowl 

M. Klesmit 

J. Tonje 

N. Winter

PPG: K. Jakucionis (16)

APG: K. Jakucionis (5)

Reb/G: T. Ivisic (8.5)

PPG: J. Tonje (19.2)

APG: M. Klesmit (3)

Reb/G: S. Crowl (5.6)

Coaches:

Illinois Fighting Illini: Brad Underwood (8th season)

Wisconsin Badgers: Greg Gard (10th season)