Feast Week is upon us, and we’re looking for a winning NCAA basketball pick down in Kansas City where the Illinois Fighting Illini battle the Cincinnati Bearcats in the opening contest of the 2021 Hall of Fame Classic. Let’s see the NCAAB odds.
Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
Monday, November 22, 2021 – 6:30 PM EST at T-Mobile Center
This is the week when we separate real college hoops aficionados from those who only show up once March arrives. The real fans will be watching this matchup between Cincinnati and Illinois instead of Monday Night Football, and eschew college football action later this week in favor of hardwood action on campuses.
A matchup between the Bearcats and Fighting Illini would’ve carried a little more weight just a couple of seasons ago when the two programs were on a bit more even ground. Coming off a 1-seed in the NCAA Men’s Tournament last March, Illinois is seen as a lock for another dance this campaign and among the favorites in the Big Ten on the college basketball future. Cincinnati would surprise most folks by making the NIT and being in the middle of the AAC pack.
Illini Looking for 5th-Straight Win Over Bearcats
You’re going to need a ticket inside T-Mobile Center or ESPNews to catch the Bearcats and Fighting Illini in action. Illinois went out on a -12 spread, but that has dropped to 10½ at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review) and other shops. Monday’s scoreboard target is 138½-139. Cincinnati and Illinois are meeting for the fifth time, and the first time since New Year’s Eve 2004 when the Fighting Illini took down the Bearcats in the Las Vegas Holiday Classic.
Both teams were unbeaten in that championship game, Illinois skating to a 67-45 decision to easily cover the college basketball odds. That game was just nine months after the two sides met in the 2004 NCAA Tournament, the 5th-seeded Fighting Illini embarrassing the 4th-seeded Bearcats 92-68 in a second-round contest.
Illinois should drop, but not fall completely out of the rankings when they are released later Monday, meaning this will be the fifth consecutive matchup the Fighting Illini have been ranked when facing Cincinnati. The Bearcats have been ranked three of the previous four meetings. Cincinnati’s only win came as the No. 1 team in the country back in January 1963 when the Bearcats went to Champaign to beat then-No. 3 Illinois, 62-53.
Will Illinois Once Again Ruin Cincy’s Unbeaten Record?
Cincinnati continues to find its new identity under Wes Miller, who stepped into the job after John Brannen’s short tenure following Mick Cronin leaving for UCLA. The roster took hits during Brannen’s two tumultuous seasons, and Miller is hoping to offset some of that by attracting several transfers from UNC-Greensboro where he was previously employed.
Miller does have three starters from last year’s backcourt back in the fold, led by Jeremiah Davenport. Cincinnati is off to a 4-0 start, due in part to Davenport’s 12.5 PPG which leads the team. The 6-7 junior scored a season-high 16 in last Thursday’s 79-45 rout of Presbyterian and did so playing just 15 minutes. Top sportsbooks closed Cincinnati as 16-point chalk, and the Bearcats almost had that covered at halftime.
Another reason Cincinnati is off to a 4-0 start is a weak schedule. The Bearcats have been double-digit favorites – covering 2 of the 4 games – in each contest, and all four matchups took place on their home floor.
Illini Gets Cockburn Back Monday Night
Brad Underwood knows what Miller is up against at Cincinnati, having come to Champaign and fixing a broken Illinois program. Underwood has had a week to work out some kinks since the Fighting Illini were last on the floor and dropped a 67-66 decision at Marquette. Favored by 8 on the betting odds, Illinois held a 12-point lead midway through the second half.
The Fighting Illini were without Kofi Cockburn in that game, as well as their wins over Jackson State and Arkansas State, but he will be on the floor tonight. The preseason pick for Big Ten Player of the Year, Cockburn missed three games due to a suspension for violating the new NIL rules, and we’ll see if there’s any rust due to the time off.
His presence can’t hurt that’s for sure and should help take pressure off a backcourt that was turnover happy in the loss at Marquette. The winner will get the winner of the Arkansas-Kansas State game that follows the Bearcats and Fighting Illini. Illinois figures to be the victor here, but will it be by double digits? Put me down for a play on the final going ‘over the mark.
NCAAB Pick: Over 138½ (-108) with Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
