Illinois vs Northwestern Game Information

Illinois vs Northwestern Preview

No. 19 Illinois (6-1, 0-0 in Big Ten) heads north upstate to Evanston on Friday night to face rivals Northwestern (6-3, 0-1 in Big Ten). The Fighting Illini have won 3 in a row, annihilating UMES (87-40), Little Rock (92-34), and Arkansas (90 -77) while the Wildcats have lost 2 out of 3, losing to Butler by a bucket (71-69), beating UNLV (66-61), and then losing at Iowa by 1 point (80-79) in their Big Ten Conference opener on a 3-point buzzer beater swish by Josh Dix of the Hawkeyes. Northwestern had a fantastic season in 2023-24, going 22-12 and beating Florida Atlantic in the First Round of the East Region in the NCAA Tournament (77-65 OT) before getting bounced by eventual national champions Connecticut in the Second Round (75-58).

Illinois Opens up Big Ten Play vs. the Purple Cats

Illinois (5-2-0 ATS, 3-4-0 O/U) lost star Terrance Shannon Jr. to the NBA (Timberwolves) but the Fighting Illini still have a very deep roster with C Tomislav Ivisic (16.3 ppg, 8.9 rpg), F Will Riley (15.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg), G Kasparas Jakucionis (13.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 6.0 apg), F Ben Humichous (10.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg), G Kylan Boswell (9.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.6 apg), G Tre White (7.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg), and G Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (7.3 ppg), and F Morez Johnson Jr. (5.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg). Illinois had a great season (29-9) and also made the Big Dance and beat Morehead State (85-59), Duquesne (89-63), and Iowa State (72-69) before also being eliminated by the Huskies in the Elite 8 (77-52). The Fighting Illini lost in their last 2 trips to Evanston, both times as Road Favorites (-4.0, -3.5).

Illinois Betting Trends

• Illinois is 3-0 SU/ATS in its last 3 overall
• The Fighting Illini are 7-3-0 ATS it last 10 games
• The Under is 6-3 in Illinois last 9 games overall
• Illinois is 8-2 SU in the last 10 series meetings
• The Fighting Illini are 3-7-0 ATS in the last 10 series meetings

Northwestern Banking on Homecourt Edge on Friday

Northwestern (3-6-0 ATS, 4-4-1 O/U) is led by G Brooks Barnhizer (20.2, 8.4 rpg, 3.3 apg), F Nick Martinelli (20.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg), G Jalen Leach (14.1 ppg), G Ty Berry (7.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg), and F Luke Hunger (4.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and this team boasts 2 players averaging more than 20 ppg, something extremely rare in any level on Men’s (or Women’s) College Basketball. Although Illinois has held the upper hand against Northwestern lately in this rivalry, the Wildcats have been very profitable ATS vs the Fighting Illini and have also defeated them the last two times at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The tough loss at Iowa on Tuesday will be in the forefront of the Wildcats minds as will a possible 0-2 SU start, so expect a strong effort from the Home team here with the crowd pumped up for the conference season opener.

Northwestern Betting Trends

• Northwestern is 3-0 ATS in the last 3 Home series meetings 
• The Wildcats are 2-0 ATS in their last 2 games (UNLV, IOWA)
• Northwestern has alternated Overs/Under in last 7 games (OUOUOUO)
• The Over is 3-1 in the Wildcats last 4 games
• Illinois has been the Favorite in all of the last 10 series meetings

Illinois vs Northwestern Prediction

This Illinois vs Northwestern NCAAB pick will back the Purple Cats and suggest taking the Points and the Home Underdog for a variety of reasons including recent past history, Site, Situation (off an emotional loss they should have won), and Barnhizer and Martinelli. These two teams have split the Regular Season Land of Lincoln series the last 2 years with the Home team going 4-0 SU. The gap between the Fighting Illini and the Wildcats has narrowed through the years and although the expectations and number will favor Illinois to win here, this is in Evanston and on a Friday night and 12th-year Head Coach Chris Collins (162-163) will have his boys believing that they can and should win this matchup. A win here and HC Collins will be at the .500 mark for his career coaching at Northwestern.

Kevin’s Pick: Northwestern +3.5