After one of the largest outright upsets in history according to Vegas lines when Illinois and Wisconsin met last season, the money is already on the Fighting Illini as we head into Friday. The line opened as high as Illinois +23.5 (meaning Wisconsin would need to win by 24 points in order to cover the spread) but that number has been significantly bet down since. Wisconsin is currently a 19.5 point favorite according to odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.
Pushing the line down by four total points since it opened on Monday is a sign that serious money is pouring in on Illinois. The total for the game, a number reflecting the total number of points scored by both teams combined, is set at 51.5 according to BetMGM.
Last season’s number had the Badgers favored by 31 points, in a game that they lost outright in Champaign.
The Badgers are a steep money line favorite (betting outright on who wins the game) at -1000. That number means a 100 dollar bet would only net a gambler $10 dollars of profit.
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