Northwestern vs. Illinois - 2/27/20 College Basketball Pick, Odds, and Prediction
Photo by Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Illinois (18-9) at Northwestern (6-20)
College Basketball: Thursday, February 27, 2020 at 8:00 pm (Welsh-Ryan Arena)
The Line: Northwestern +4.5 -- Over/Under: 132 Click Here for the Latest Odds
Where to Watch: BTN Stream College Basketball all season on ESPN+. Sign up now!

The Illinois Fighting Illini (18-9, CONF 10-6) and Northwestern Wildcats (6-20, CONF 1-15) face off in a Big Ten showdown at Welsh Ryan Arena. Illinois knocked off Northwestern 75-71 earlier this season.
Illinois is a tournament team and coming into this game they have won two games in a row, but in their last game they failed to cover the spread against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Away from home this season Illinois is sitting with a 5-5 record. The offense hasn’t been on strong on the road for Illinois averaging 66.4 points per game while the defense has given up 69 points.
Over the last five games Illinois offense hasn’t been elite averaging only 65 points and going forward the offense is going to need to find a way to have more success.
Illinois is led by guard Ayo Dosunmu who is averaging 16.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. Dosunmu is shooting 48 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free throw line.
Northwestern is having another bad season and coming into this game they have lost ten games in a row and they have only one victory during conference play.
Northwestern have struggled to score this year, and the defense hasn’t done enough to keep the games close. In Northwestern’s last game against Minnesota the defense struggled giving up 83 points and the offense had no success putting up only 57 points.
Northwestern is led by forward Miller Kopp who is averaging 13 points while shooting 48 percent from the field.
Illinois is 6-13 against the spread in their last 19 games played on Thursday. Northwestern is 7-19-1 against the spread in their last 27 home games. Northwestern is 12-26-1 against the spread in their last 39 games overall. Illinois is 9-1 in their last ten games played against Northwestern.
The under is 71-32-1 in Illinois last 104 roa games. The under is 6-2 in Northwestern’s last eight home games.
Illinois is the better team, and Northwestern doesn’t have enough offense to keep this game close. Look for Illinois to win this game and cover the spread with ease.
Shane’s Pick Illinois -4.5
AUTHOR: Shane Mickle
