NCAA tournament-bound Iowa and Illinois conclude their regular seasons with a Big Ten battle Sunday evening in Champaign. The Illini retain an outside shot at a share of the Big 10’s regular-season championship while the Hawkeyes are shooting to secure a top-four seed in next week’s Big 10 tournament.
How are we playing this game with our free college basketball betting pick?
College Basketball Betting Odds
Sunday’s CBB betting lines opened Illinois as a three-point favorite over Iowa, with an over/under of right around 153.5. Early betting action then bumped the Illini to -3.5, and that total to 154.
According to Sagarin’s CBB ratings at sagarin.com, Illinois should only be favored by two points for this match-up.
Iowa Betting Preview
The Hawkeyes ride a five-game winning streak into Sunday night following an impressive 82-71 victory at Michigan Thursday night. Iowa popped out to a 13-4 lead on the Wolverines and took a 47-30 advantage into the half. The Hawkeyes pushed their lead to 19 early in the second half, let Michigan get within seven with three minutes left but held on for the win.
Iowa shot 53 percent from the field Thursday, hit 11/19 from 3-point land and 11/12 from the free-throw line.
Two games ago, the Hawkeyes beat Northwestern 82-61. In fact, Iowa is 8-1 SU, 6-3 ATS over its last nine games, each victory coming by double-digits.
At 22-8 overall, the Hawkeyes are shoo-ins to make the NCAA tournament, and at 12-7 in Big Ten play, they’ve got a chance at one of those top-four seeds for the conference tournament, which includes a double-bye.
Illinois Betting Preview
The Illini, meanwhile, are 3-1 over their last four games after holding off Penn State Thursday night 60-55. Illinois led 8-2 early but went cold and trailed 30-29 at the half. The Illini still trailed by a bucket with six minutes left but finished the game with a 10-3 run to avoid the upset.
However, Illinois came up way short ATS at -12.5.
The Illini shot just 36 percent from the floor Thursday but hit 15/17 from the line and won the turnover battle 12-8.
Two games ago, Illinois won at Michigan 93-85. However, going back a bit further, the Illini are only 4-3 SU, 2-5 ATS over their last seven games.
At 21-8 overall, Illinois is also headed to the Big Dance, and at 14-5 in Big 10 play, they’ve already clinched a top-four seed for the Big 10 tournament. The Illini can still tie Wisconsin for the Big 10’s regular-season title, but they’ll need the Badgers to lose at home to last-place Nebraska earlier Sunday.
- Get more details: Iowa/ILL 3/6/22 Betting Stats
Iowa-Illinois Recent History
The Illini own a four-game winning streak on the Hawkeyes, going 3-1 ATS, including an 87-83 victory at Iowa City back in December. Illinois led that game by 15 midway through the second half, let Iowa get within three several times from there but hung on for a key conference road W.
Also, that game played way over a total of 151.5.
Totals Report
- The overs are 19-10 in Hawkeyes games this season, which are averaging 154.5 total points.
- The overs are 17-11 in Illini games this season, which are averaging 144 points.
- The unders are 4-2 over the last six meetings between these two teams.
