Previewing Tuesday’s Minnesota Golden Gophers at Illinois Fighting Illini sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks, tips and predictions.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-0) squares off with the Illinois Fighting Illini (4-2) in both teamsā Big Ten season opener at State Farm Center in Champaign. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Minnesota-Illinois college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
The Fighting Illini are No. 13 in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s College Basketball Coaches Poll.
Minnesota at Illinois: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:30 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Minnesota +300 (bet $100 to win $300) | Illinois -400 (bet $400 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Minnesota +8 (-110) | Illinois -8 (-110)
- Over/Under: 146 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Minnesota at Illinois: Three things to know
- Minnesota demolished Missouri Kansas City 90-61 and covered the spread as a massive 17-point favorite. The Golden Gophers lived at the free-throw line against the Roos, going 34-for-44 from the charity stripe while Kansas City was just 8 of 19.
- Illinois has lost two of its last three games, including an 81-78 loss to Missouri Dec. 12 as a 3.5-point favorite. Unlike Minnesota, the Fighting Illini lost because of a free throw disadvantage of 17 to Missouriās 26 made free throws and they were also out-rebounded 35-26.
- Minnesota-Illinois features a fun point guard duel with Golden Gophers PGĀ Marcus CarrĀ matched up against Fighting Illini PG Ayo Dosunmu, both of which lead their teams in points and assists per game.
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Minnesota at Illinois: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Minnesota 70, Illinois 67
Minnesota is the deeper and more experienced team, The Gophers also have a lineup and style that matches up really well against Illinois.
Most teams don’t have the backcourt to hang with Dosunmu but the Golden Gophers, and Carr specifically, should be up to the challenge. Plus, Minnesota has its own 7-foot big man in C Liam Robbins to take on Illinois C Kofi Cockburn.
IĀ “LEAN” MINNESOTA (+300)Ā for a quarter-unit because IĀ likeĀ them plus the points. It’s an optimal long-term strategy to sprinkle on heavy underdogs you bet to cover the spread.
Where Minnesota has a significant edge is in the turnover battle. The Golden Gophers are ranked 28th in turnovers per game and 42nd in opponents’ turnovers per game while the Fighting Illini are 221st in turnovers and 243rd in opponents’ turnovers per game.
If Minnesota can win the turnover battle, it’ll control the tempo and cash tickets for its backers. Also, 80% of the money is on Illinois but the line hasnāt budged from the opening number, according to Pregame.com.
The House is OK with everyone taking Illinois so let’s BET MINNESOTA +8 (-110)Ā for 1.5 units.
I only “LEAN” UNDER 146 (-105) because the teams’ 2020 O/U trends heavily point to the Over. Minnesota-Illinois each play at an above-average pace and have a combined 9-3 O/U record on the year.
Several of the same players were in this game last season and the 59-51 Illinois win fell way short of the projected total of 135. We’ll get a little better shooting in this game but I think these teams get after it defensively.
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