The No. 23 Illinois Fighting Illini (20-10, 12-7 Big 10) and No. 18 Iowa Hawkeyes (20-10, 11-8 Big 10) wrap up the regular season when they go head-to-head at State Farm Center. The game is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 8, 2020.
Online sportsbooks have the Over/Under (O/U) for the game opened at 146 points with Illinois set as a 3-point favorite.
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Illinois Fighting Illini ATS Prediction
The last time the Hawkeyes played, they were defeated by the Purdue Boilermakers, 77-68. Purdue’s rebounding was their biggest strength. The Boilermakers had 21 offensive rebounds and 47 total rebounds, while the Hawkeyes had 10 and 33, respectively. Luka Garza was the top scorer from either team with 26 points on 9-for-17 shooting.
The Fighting Illini fell to the No. 19 Ohio State Buckeyes in their last matchup, 71-63. Ohio State was successful at getting to and converting from the free throw line. The Buckeyes made 24 of their 28 free throws (85.7 percent), while the Fighting Illini were just 9-10 (90.0 percent). With 21 points on 9-for-14 shooting, Ayo Dosunmu was the top scorer from either team.
This is the second game of the season between these two teams. In the first, Garza scored a game-high 25 points and the Hawkeyes defeated the Fighting Illini 72-65. He also put up 10 rebounds. Iowa’s free throw rate was their biggest strength over Illinois. The Hawkeyes had a rate of 0.240, while the Fighting Illini posted a mark of 0.155.
Illinois could own the offensive glass in this matchup. The Fighting Illini rank ninth in offensive rebounding percentage (35.9 percent), while Iowa ranks 262nd in defensive rebounding percentage (70.4 percent).
Iowa vs. Illinois Free Pick
Prediction: ATS Winner – Iowa, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
Illinois ranks 50th in assists allowed per game (11.1) while Iowa ranks 248th (15.3).
The Fighting Illini rank 66th in three pointers allowed per game (19.4) while the Hawkeyes rank 248th (24.5).
Illinois averages 39.8 rebounds per game, which ranks 21st in the nation. Iowa ranks 180th in rebounds allowed per game (35.6).
The Hawkeyes rank 136th in steals per game (6.3) while the Fighting Illini rank 241st (4.8).
Iowa ranks 63rd in blocks per game (3.9) while Illinois ranks 107th in blocks allowed per game (3.3).
The Hawkeyes’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 0.8, down from 5.7 for the season.
During their last five games, the Fighting Illini have scored an average of 67.4 points per game (4.6 below their season average) and allowed an average of 63.6 points per game (1.3 below their season average).