Northwestern vs Illinois Prediction 1/26/25 College Basketball Picks

The Northwestern Wildcats are visiting the Illinois Fighting Illini on Sunday, January 26th at the State Farm Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Northwestern Wildcats vs Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction. We will examine:

The Illinois Fighting Illini’s recent form and player performance

The Northwestern Wildcats’ recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Illinois Fighting Illini

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Northwestern Wildcats

Recent betting trends in games played between Northwestern Wildcats and Illinois Fighting Illini

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Northwestern Wildcats vs Illinois Fighting Illini game

Illinois Fighting Illini Preview

The Illinois Fighting Illini have a 13-6 record this season and are sitting in the 6th place in the Big 10. Illinois is coming off a 70-91 loss to Maryland. The Fighting Illini are 9-9-1 against the spread, and 11-8 in over/under while having an 8-3 home record.

Offensively, Illinois is averaging 85.9 points per game, which is the 75th-best in the nation. Defensively, they allow 69.2 points per game (109th). The Fighting Illini shoot 44.5% from the field (198th) and 32.1% from beyond the arc (276th). The Fighting Illini shoot 76.1% from the free-throw line (50th) and are grabbing 44.7 rebounds per game, which is the second-best in the nation.

Kasparas Jakucionis leads Illinois in scoring with an average of 16.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and a team-high 5.4 assists, while Tomislav Ivisic adds 13 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds.

Northwestern Wildcats Preview

The Northwestern Wildcats have a 12-7 record this season and are sitting in 14th place in the Big Ten. The Wildcats are coming off a 79-70 win over Indiana. The Wildcats are 11-8 against the spread, and 12-6-1 in over/under while having a 0-5 road record.

Offensively, Northwestern is averaging 74.2 points per game, which ranks 204th in the nation. Defensively, they are allowing 68.2 points per game (84th). The Wildcats shoot 44.4% from the field (209th) and 32.7% from beyond the arc (248th). The Wildcats shoot 72.1% from the free throw line (176th) and are grabbing 34.8 rebounds per game (238th).

Nick Martinelli leads Northwestern in scoring this season, with an average of 19.9 points and 5.4 rebounds, while Brooks Barnhizer adds 18.5 points and a team-high 9.2 rebounds. Northwestern will face Rutgers and Wisconsin following this one.

Why the Illinois Fighting Illini will win

• Illinois has won each of its last 10 games at State Farm Center when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• Northwestern has lost each of its last eight games at State Farm Center.
• Illinois has won the first half in each of its last nine day games at State Farm Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Why the Northwestern Wildcats will win

• Northwestern has won six of its last seven games when playing with a rest advantage.
• Illinois has lost three of its last four games.
• The road team has won the first half in three of Northwestern’s last four games.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Illinois’ last eight day games against the Big Ten Conference has produced a total of 154+ points.
• Eight of Northwestern’s last 10 day games have produced a total of 146 or fewer points.

Matchup/League Facts

• Illinois ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for rebounds per game this season (44.7).
• Illinois ranks 4th among Division 1 teams for opponent three-point field goals made per game this season (5.4).
• Northwestern ranks 29th among Division 1 teams for opponent steals per game this season (5.5).
• Northwestern ranks 29th among Division 1 teams for turnovers per game this season (10.3).

Northwestern Wildcats vs Illinois Fighting Illini Head-to-Head

Illinois is 7-3 in their last 10 meetings against Northwestern, but Northwestern is 7-1 against the spread in their last 8 meetings. Under is 3-1 in their last 4 meetings in Illinois, and in their most recent meeting earlier this season, Northwestern won 70-66 in overtime at home, covering the spread, as the game went under the point total.

Northwestern Wildcats vs Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction

In this Northwestern Wildcats vs Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction, Illinois is coming as a -7.5 home favorites. Illinois has been dominating at home, but they are struggling lately, as they are 1-3 in their last 4 games. Both teams have been playing some higher-scoring games lately, as they are 15-2 to the over in their last 17 games combined. I expect this strong trend to continue in this matchup, so take the over.