Game Preview
Northwestern, ranked 21st, is set to take on Illinois on Thursday with hopes of continuing their winning streak. The Wildcats have won their last five games, allowing them to enter the top 25 for the first time this season. Conversely, Illinois has lost three of their last five games but did manage to beat Minnesota 78-69 on Monday.
Northwestern has consistently won games this season, including victories against Purdue and Indiana, which helped secure their place in the top 25. They have won eight of their last ten games, including an 80-60 win against Iowa in their last game, and will play three of their final four regular-season games away.
Despite being ranked outside the top 100 in adjusted offensive efficiency ratings, Northwestern has relied on their defense to win games, boasting a turnover rate ranked 17th nationally. Senior guard Boo Buie and guard Chase Audige will be key players to watch when they face Illinois, who have a No. 22 field goal percentage defense.
Let’s check the latest picks, NCAAB news, stats and NCAAB expert picks for Northwestern vs Illinois. We’ve plenty of NCAAB predictions for you to consider.
Illinois, who are currently the No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament field, had a strong run in January, winning seven out of eight games. However, they have since lost three of their last five games, including back-to-back losses against Penn State and Indiana. Additionally, they will be without their leading scorer Terrence Shannon Jr., who is questionable due to a concussion. Matthew Mayer was their top scorer in their last game, with 22 points in their win over Minnesota.
In their earlier matchup in January, Northwestern won 73-60 over Illinois. Illinois will have to overcome Northwestern’s No. 21 adjusted efficiency defense to secure a victory. Illinois is ranked No. 92 in effective field goal percentage, with a 31.5% success rate from 3-point range, and has struggled with turnovers and free throw percentage, ranked No. 215 and No. 311, respectively.
Northwestern Wildcats vs Illinois Fighting Illini Game Information
- Date: 02/23/2023
- Time: 09:00 PM ET
- Location: State Farm Center.
- How to Watch Northwestern vs Illinois: ESPN+
- Live Stream: CBS.com
Northwestern vs Illinois Betting Lines
Illinois is -250 according to our Vegas NCAAB Lines. This means that if you wager $100 you have the chance to win $40.On the other side, Northwestern is +205 according to the Vegas NCAAB Lines. This means that if you wager $100 you have the chance to win $205.
The implied probability for these two teams attached to the betting lines has Illinois at a 71.43% chance of winning the game, meanwhile Northwestern has 32.79% probability of finishing the game with the W.
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