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The Wisconsin Badgers (22-12, 11-9 Big Ten) and the No. 14 Illinois Fighting Illini (25-8, 14-6 Big Ten) meet in the Big Ten Championship Sunday afternoon. Tipoff at Target Center is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Wisconsin vs. Illinois odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
Wisconsin reached the title game by upsetting the top-seeded Purdue Boilermakers 76-75 in overtime on Saturday. G Chucky Hepburn scored a team-high 22 points, including the game-tying layup to send the game to OT. G Max Klesmit, who had 5 assists, knocked down a runner in the lane with under 5 seconds to play in the extra period to secure the win for the Badgers.
Illinois trailed Nebraska by double digits to close out the 1st half in the 2nd semifinal matchup Saturday, but the Illini surged ahead offensively in the final 20 minutes and beat the Cornhuskers 98-87. G Terrence Shannon Jr. scored a season-high 40 points, a record for the most points scored in a Big Ten Tournament game.
This is the 2nd meeting this season. On March 2, Illini F Marcus Domask scored a game-high 31 points in a 91-83 victory in Madison. Illinois has not lost to Wisconsin since 2019, winning the last 7 matchups.
– Rankings courtesy of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
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Wisconsin vs. Illinois odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:36 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Wisconsin +132 (bet $100 to win $132) | Illinois -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Wisconsin +3.5 (-115) | Illinois -3.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 148.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Wisconsin vs. Illinois picks and predictions
Prediction
Illinois 79, Wisconsin 76
Moneyline
BET ILLINOIS -160.
Shannon, who was the 2nd-leading scorer in the Big Ten (21.9 points per game) behind Purdue’s Zach Edey, is having a monster tournament. It’s a lot of juice to lay, but Illinois is the better team and Brad Underwood’s squad should be able to outlast the Badgers.
Against the spread
PASS.
Greg Gard’s group has gotten hot at the right time after a rough stretch in February and early March which saw Wisconsin go 2-7. I don’t expect the Badgers to win their 1st Big Ten Tournament title since 2015, but I do believe it will be close, similar to when Illinois took down Ohio State 91-88 in OT in the 2021 title game.
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Over/Under
BET OVER 148.5.
Expect junior G Hepburn, along with sophomore G AJ Storr to take plenty of shots as they try to help Wisconsin keep pace with the No. 1 scoring offense in the Big Ten (Illinois averages 84.2 PPG).
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