Wisconsin vs Illinois College Basketball Picks, Odds, Predictions 2/27/21

The Illinois Fighting Illini and the Wisconsin Badgers meet Saturday in college basketball action from Kohl Center. 

Illinois enters this one at 17-6 so far. The Illini are 1-1 in their last pair and coming off a win over Nebraska. As for Wisconsin, they’re 16-8 this year. The Badgers are 1-2 in their last three games and coming off a win over Northwestern. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Illinois has had a pretty solid season thus far, and they’ve only lost consecutive games once this year. The Illini had a seven-game win streak snapped by Michigan State on Tuesday, but bounced back with a 16-point win over Nebraska in the Thursday game. 

In the 86-70 win over Nebraska, Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn put up 24 points with seven rebounds, and Adam Miller had 18 points with four rebounds. Andre Curbelo put up a double-double in that one with 10 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists as well. 

Over on the Wisconsin side, they kicked off the season at a nice 10-2 clip, but haven’t been able to win consecutive games since late January. In the last three outings, the Badgers have a pair of losses to Michigan and Iowa alongside a win over Northwestern. 

In the 68-51 win over Northwestern last weekend, Wisconsin’s Micah Potter led the team on 19 points with eight rebounds and three assists. D’Mitrik Trice had a nice line in that game as well with 13 points, five rebounds and five assists in 34 minutes of work. 

The Badgers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 Saturday games and 23-9-2 ATS in their last 34 as a home underdog. Wisconsin is 0-4 ATS in their last four after an ATS win and the over is 3-0-1 in their last four Saturday games. 

Meanwhile, the Illini are 3-1-1 ATS in their last five Saturday games and 4-1 ATS in their last five versus a team with a winning straight-up record. The over is 10-2 in Illinois’ last 12 road games and the under is 7-3-1 in their last 11 after a straight-up win. 

PICK: I’m going to stick with Illinois. The last time these teams met up back on February 6, the Illini secured a 75-60 victory. Wisconsin hasn’t scored more than 68 points in any of their last five games, so they’re likely going to have to step on the gas offensively in this one. If Illinois can get off to a quick start and keep the Badgers at bay, the cover/win should be theirs to take. Should be a great game.