Northwestern Wildcats vs Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 02/23/2023

Game Time: 9:00 pm ET, Thursday, February 23, 2023

Venue:  State Farm Center, Champaign, IL 

Where to Watch:  Big Ten Network

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Northwestern +4, Illinois -4; Over/Under:  136 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Northwestern +4, Illinois -4; Over/Under:  136 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Northwestern +4, Illinois -4; Over/Under:  136 points

Northwestern Wildcats:  20-7 (11-5) (2nd place, Big Ten)

Illinois Fighting Illini:  18-9 (9-7) (4th place, Big Ten)

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Northwestern Wildcats:  5-0  last 5

Illinois Fighting Illini:  2-3  last 5

Northwestern is coming into this game with a 20-7 record overall and they are 6-2 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are also 11-5 in their conference games this season as well. They are entering this game on a 5 game winning streak with wins coming against the Wisconsin Badgers, the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Purdue Boilermakers, the Indiana Hoosiers, and the Iowa Hawkeyes in their last game. Boo Buie led the team in points in that game with 23 while Ty Berry was next on the team with 16 points. Boo Buie led the team in assists in that game with 8 while Brooks Barnhizer led the team in rebounds with 7. They were 49.1% from the field, 50% from 3-point range, and 80% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 68.5 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 61.9 PPG against them. Northwestern has an ATS record of 17-10 this season and their O/U record is 10-17.

Illinois is coming into this game with an 18-9 record overall and they are 13-2 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are also 9-7 in their conference schedule this season as well. They are entering this game off of a win against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in their last game. Matthew Mayer led the team in points in that game with 22 while Jayden Epps was next on the team with 17 points. Coleman Hawkins led the team in assists in that game with 3 while RJ Melendez led the team in rebounds with 11. They were 48.2% from the field, 38.5% from 3-point range, and 53.8% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 75 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 65.4 PPG against them. Illinois has an ATS record of 16-10-1 this season and their O/U record is 12-14-1.

The current betting odds have Northwestern listed as a 4 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Northwestern has been having a great season as they are 20-7 overall and have one of the best records in the Big Ten with their 11-5 conference record. They have even been good in their road games with a 6-2 road record this year and they are getting really hot in their games lately as they have won 5 games in a row now. Illinois has also been having a good season with their 18-9 record overall but they have actually been struggling in the Big Ten more than Northwestern has been as Illinois has a 9-7 conference record. Illinois has been a really strong home team though with a 13-2 home record, but they struggled to pull away from Minnesota in their last game there, Minnesota being the worst team in the Big Ten this season, and they are going to struggle to pull away from Northwestern here with the way they have been playing lately. Northwestern has been hot lately and they have the potential to pull off an upset win in this game but even if they do lose it won't be by more than a couple of points. The best way to place a bet here is on Northwestern to cover the spread in this game. 

Northwestern Illinois Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Thursday, February 23, 2023 (9:00 pm ET start time) is Illinois 82 Northwestern 79.

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Northwestern Wildcats: 12-4 ATS after 1 or more consecutive unders. 11-5 ATS against conference opponents. 10-3 UNDER when the total is 130 to 139.5.

Illinois Fighting Illini: 3-9 ATS after a game committing 8 or less turnovers. 9-2 UNDER after one or more consecutive overs. 18-9 UNDER after 3 straight games committing 14 or less turnovers.

Northwestern Wildcats:  J. Roper II (G) Out indefinitely - Ankle. L. Hunger (F) out for season - Foot.

Illinois Fighting Illini:  T. Shannon Jr. (G) Ques Thurs - Concussion.

“We felt we had a great core of guys who were really invested in the program. When everyone picked us to finish at the bottom of the league, I did think we had a chance to be better than people thought.” - Chris Collins on his team’s great season this year.

"I don't know if 'proud' is the right word. Excited and elated. Great college basketball. Great game. Unfortunately we have not played these guys healthy. But I am a much bigger believer in our team right now than I have this season. Luke Goode's performance — Ty Rodgers had not practiced all week. He had strep throat. RJ (Melendez) woke up yesterday with it. We don't know anything about Terrence (Shannon Jr.), who is in concussion protocol. Our leading scorer and one of our best defenders.” - Brad Underwood after his team’s close loss against Indiana over the weekend.

C. Audige 

R. Beran 

T. Berry 

B. Buie 

M. Nicholson

S. Clark 

C. Hawkins 

M. Mayer 

R. Melendez 

T. Shannon

PPG: B. Buie (17)

APG: B. Buie (4.6)

Reb/G: M. Nicholson (5.6)

PPG: T. Shannon Jr. (17)

APG: C. Hawkins (3.1)

Reb/G: C. Hawkins (6.5)

Coaches:

Northwestern Wildcats: Chris Collins (10th season)

Illinois Fighting Illini: Brad Underwood (6th season)