Illinois vs Rutgers Prediction, Game Preview: Big Ten Tournament

Big Ten Tournament: Illinois Fighting Illini vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights prediction and college basketball game preview.

Big Ten Tournament: Illinois Fighting Illini vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights prediction and college basketball game preview.


Illinois vs Rutgers Broadcast

Date: Friday, March 13
Game Time: 6:30 ET
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Network: BTN

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All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Illinois (20-6) vs Rutgers (15-10) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college basketball, go to BetMGM


Why Rutgers Will Win

Indiana helped the cause by missing just about everything just as it needed to try saving its season down the stretch, but the Rutgers D deserves a little credit in a 61-50 win in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.

The Hoosiers couldn’t shoot from the free throw line, and Rutgers could. Neither team could hit from three, but the Scarlet Knights were a bit better, and overall, they took advantage of the opportunity.

They gave Illinois a great run in a 91-88 Illini win in late December, getting to the line 36 times and doing enough from the field to stay in the game. The defense is great at coming up with steals, blocks, and …

Why Illinois Will Win

Illinois is acting and playing like a team that’s expecting to hang around Indianapolis for a long, long time.

It was able to roll through the finishing kick of the season despite the loss of star Ayo Dosunmu to a face injury. He’s back to add his star power to an already rock-solid team that’s been consistent from the field, amazing on the boards, and tremendous at moving the ball around for the extra pass for the open three.

What’s Going To Happen

Rutgers is just plucky enough to keep hanging around.

As good as Illinois it, it’s normally not the type of team that’s going to rip off 89 points and pull away with ease. However, it’s the type of team that’s going to come up with 75ish points with the defense that’s going to stop everything and then get the rebound.

Illinois will sputter for the first minutes, and then the D will take over.

Illinois vs Rutgers Prediction, Line

Illinois 75, Rutgers 63
Bet on college basketball with BetMGM
Line: COMING, o/u: COMING
ATS Confidence out of 5: COMING

Must See Rating: 2.5

5: The other 17 holes at the TPC
1: The focus on the TPC 17th

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Illinois vs Rutgers Prediction, Game Preview

Illinois Fighting Illini vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights prediction and game preview.

Illinois vs Rutgers prediction and game preview.


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Illinois vs Rutgers Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 14
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: SHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJ
Network: Big Ten Network

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All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Illinois (0-3) vs Rutgers (1-2) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM


Why Illinois Will Win

The running game hasn’t been bad. It’s not dominant, and it’s not making up for the other issues across the board, but it’s been getting progressively better, with 181 yards last week against Minnesota.

The defense is taking the ball away, coming up with a Big Ten-high five over the three games, and the offense needs it. The downfield passing game is the best in the conference – averaging 14.35 yards per completion – and that running game is good enough to win with, and …

Why Rutgers Will Win

Illinois is way too awful in too many areas, starting with the inability to do anything right on either side of the ball on third downs.

The passing game is the most inconsistent in the conference, the lack of third down conversions are leading to the Big Ten-worst 21:05 in time of possession with no ability to go on long marches.

Rutgers is tied with Illinois with eight takeaways – most of them in the win over Michigan State – the pass rush has been a killer with a whole lot of plays behind the line, and the team is playing with more of a spring in its step and more energy. The team is finding ways to be interesting and stay in the fight now, but …

What’s Going To Happen

Rutgers isn’t doing anything offensively.

It might be more interesting on the offensive side this year, and it’s scoring a whole lot more, but after three games last year the O gained 1,059 yards, and this year it has 896.

Fortunately, Illinois doesn’t have the offense to take advantage of the punchless Scarlet Knights, and the defense doesn’t have to worry about any sort of consistent Illini passing game.

It’ll be a whole lot of ugly, but Rutgers will get its second win in an interesting fight.

Illinois vs Rutgers Prediction, Line

Rutgers 27, Illinois 24
Bet on Illinois vs Rutgers with BetMGM
Rutgers -7.5, o/u: 51.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 2.5

5: Alex Trebek
1: “Who are three people who have never been in my kitchen.”

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