Iowa vs. Illinois NCAA Basketball Preview and Best Bet (Archive)
Tonight’s the final night that we’ll be watching regular-season college basketball. The Illinois Fighting Illini will welcome the Iowa Hawkeyes to Champaign, IL for the regular-season battle that could give Illinois a share of the regular-season title with a Wisconsin loss and an Illinois win.
Wisconsin, however, is playing the Big Ten’s worst in Nebraska, however, Nebraska has looked much better recently. But so has Iowa, Illinois’ opponent. Illinois needs a Wisconsin loss and a win over Iowa, at home, to get a share of the Big Ten regular-season title. Will tonight play out perfectly for Illinois or will Iowa spoil it?
Tonight will get a bit wild. So here it goes!
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
Sunday, March 6, 2022 – 7:30 PM EST State Farm Center
Iowa faced Illinois back on December 6, losing 87-83 at home. But Iowa has changed since that game. In its last nine, Iowa has won eight games with the lone loss to Michigan, at home.
The Hawkeyes are one of the best offenses in the nation, shooting a 52.9 percent effective field goal percentage. Iowa rarely turns the ball over, losing the ball just 12.6 percent of the time this season. On the glass, the Hawkeyes have been above average, earning 32.1 percent of offensive rebounds.
From the field, Iowa has knocked down just under 36 percent of attempts from three and 52.4 percent from inside the arc. At the line, it’s the same, with Iowa hitting 75.7 percent. The Hawkeyes are just above-average in every category on the offensive end.
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Meanwhile, Illinois won’t earn turnovers against Iowa but figures to get some stops. Illinois has held opponents to 32.1 percent from three and 45.2 percent from inside the arc. It’s just that sometimes the Fighting Illini aren’t active enough defensively as they don’t earn many blocks or steals throughout a game.
On the other hand, Illinois is almost as elite as Iowa on the offensive end. The Fighting Illini are shooting a 53.6 percent effective field goal percentage and should have more success on the offensive glass as they earn 33.9 percent of offensive rebounds.
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Illinois has hit 36.7 percent from three and 52.5 percent from inside the arc and the reality is, Iowa’s defense is nowhere close to Illinois’. Iowa is allowing teams to shoot 33.1 percent from three and 49.9 percent from inside. On the defensive glass, the Hawkeyes are allowing 29.6 percent offensive rebounds. However, Iowa has been better at keeping teams away from the foul line slightly more than Illinois has.
Prediction
The total for this game sits at 154 at the NCAAB odds board and I actually don’t think this is too high. Iowa is averaging 83.6 points per game and has scored at least 82 points in its last four games this season. The offense hasn’t missed and beat and Illinois should be just fine, at home, from the field.
Illinois has had some big offensive games this season as well, scoring 93 points against Michigan while allowing 86 to Ohio State. So, let’s take the over for your college basketball picks.
NCAAB Pick: Over 154 (-116) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline 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.