Wisconsin Badgers at Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Odds

Opening Line: Wisconsin -2.5/ Illinois +2.5 O/U 121

Time: 2 PM EST Sunday March 7, 2010 on ESPN

On Sunday afternoon in a Big 10 match up the Illinois Fighting Illini host the 22nd ranked Wisconsin Badgers. This game may be of more importance to Illinois, as they are on the bubble and a win over a ranked team would really look good on their Big Dance resume.

Wisconsin can improve their NCAA tournament seed with a win and a solid showing in the Big 10 tournament. If Illinois loses this game they will need to play well in the conference tournament to get an at large berth to the NCAA tourney.

Illinois has not ended the season well, as they have lost their last 2 games while Wisconsin has won 3 straight.

This season Illinois is 12-4 at home and 11-17 ATS and Wisconsin is 4-5 on the road and 15-11 ATS.

In their last games Illinois lost to Ohio State 73-57 on Tuesday night while Wisconsin crushed Iowa 67-40 on Wednesday night.

This season Illinois is 12-4 at home and 11-17 ATS and Wisconsin is 4-5 on the road and 15-11 ATS.

In their last games Illinois lost to Ohio State 73-57 on Tuesday night while Wisconsin crushed Iowa 67-40 on Wednesday night.

Illinois has a solid offense averaging 71 ppg, but they will have to figure out how to score on a Wisconsin squad that has the best defense in the Big 10 only allowing an average of 56.1 ppg.

Wisconsin wins with their defense, but they also have a great frontcourt with the 3 guards of Trevon Hughes (15.4 ppg), Jason Bohannon (12.3 ppg), and Jordan Taylor (9.9 ppg). The guards will have to shoot well tonight in order to win this game.

Illinois has a more well balanced offense with 2 guards, a forward, and a center averaging in double figures led by G Demetri McCamey (15.1 ppg). If they can score with their frontcourt they will be in good shape in this game and they have to play solid perimeter defense against the Badgers' guards.

The match up of the 2 big men of Illinois' 7'1" C Mike Tisdale (11.5 ppg 6.1 rpg) and Wisconsin's 6'10 F Jon Leuer (14.6 ppg 5.8 rpg) is a big one, no pun intended, as each will be counted on to play good defense and rebound the ball.

These 2 teams played about a month ago in Wisconsin and the Badgers won the game 63-56.

Wisconsin is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games against teams with a winning record and has an Under record of 4-0 in their last 4 games against teams with a winning record.

Illinois is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games, 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games against teams with a losing road record, and has an Over record of 11-4 in their last 15 home games.

The total has gone Under in the last 4 games between these 2 teams and in 6 of their last 8 games in Illinois.

Our Selection : Illinois has a solid offense averaging 71 ppg, but they will have to figure out how to score on a Wisconsin squad that has the best defense in the Big 10 only allowing an average of 56.1 ppg. Illinois has not ended the season well, as they have lost their last 2 games while Wisconsin has won 3 straight. C Mike Tisdale is probable for today's game but if he isn't able to go that will give the Badgers a huge edge up front. We like Wisconsin to win as a small dog on the road. Take the Badgers +2.5