Illinois begins what it hopes to be a run through the Big 10 tournament when it meets Iowa for a second-round bout Thursday evening in Indianapolis.
The Illini are probably already in the NCAA tournament, but a couple of Big 10 tournament wins wouldn’t hurt their resume.
Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes are looking for their second victory in this conference tournament and a third straight upset.
How are we playing this game with our free college basketball betting pick?
NCAAB Betting Odds
The Big 10 tournament betting market opened Illinois at -10 for Thursday night, with an over/under of right around 166. Early betting action bumped that spread to -11.
Iowa-Illinois Betting Preview
The 15th-seeded Hawkeyes have made it to the second round of the Big 10 tournament after a 77-70 victory over Ohio State in the first round. The game was tightly contested, with the score tied at 61 with seven minutes remaining. Iowa then executed a crucial 7-0 run, gaining control and ultimately securing the win. The Hawkeyes displayed strong offensive efficiency, shooting 55 percent from the field, while limiting Ohio State to just 42 percent.
Iowa’s regular season in the Big 10 was marked by inconsistency, finishing with a 7-13 record. After a 3-2 start, they suffered 11 losses in their next 14 games, with seven of those losses by double digits. However, they concluded their regular season with an 83-68 win against Nebraska, indicating a recent surge in performance. Despite these two consecutive upset victories, Iowa’s overall record of 17-15 means their only path to the NCAA tournament is by winning the Big 10 tournament. Their odds were considered long shots, with betting odds listed at 300/1 earlier in the week.
Meanwhile, the 7th-seeded Illinois Illini earned a first-round bye in the tournament after posting a 12-8 record in the Big 10. Their season had its ups and downs, with a period of struggle including losses to Michigan State, Wisconsin, and a blowout by Duke. However, they finished strong with three consecutive wins, notably a 20-point victory over Michigan and a recent 88-80 win against Purdue. In the Purdue game, Illinois rallied from a four-point deficit with two minutes remaining, closing with a 13-1 run. With a 20-11 overall record, Illinois is likely to secure an NCAA tournament bid. Their seed could improve with a strong showing in the Big 10 tournament.
The two teams recently faced each other, with Illinois defeating Iowa 81-61 in Champaign. Illinois dominated that game, jumping to an early 19-6 lead and eventually leading by 24. They shot 51 percent from the field, limited Iowa to 42 percent, and had a significant advantage in turnovers. The game also stayed under the total of 170 points. Illinois has had a strong recent record against Iowa, winning eight of their last nine meetings, with a 7-2 record against the spread.
Totals Report
The Unders are 7-3 over Iowa’s last 10 games, thanks in good part to some high totals.
The Overs are 6-2 over Illinois’ last eight games.
