Minnesota vs Illinois 1/4/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Illinois Fighting Illini and the Minnesota Golden Gophers meet in college basketball action from Williams Arena on Tuesday night.

The Illinois Fighting Illini will look to build on their 88-63 win over the Missouri Tigers last time out. Kofi Cockburn leads Illinois in scoring and rebounding, averaging a double-double per game with 21.8 PPG and 12.1 RPG while Alfonso Plummer has 17.3 PPG and Jacob Grandison has 12.8 PPG with 4.2 RPG. Trent Frazier has 11.7 PPG with 3.1 APG to make up the group of double-digit scorers for Illinois up to this point in the year while Da’Monte Williams has a team-high 3.4 APG as well to lead Illinois in assists as well this season. As a team, Illinois is averaging 81.2 PPG on 47.7% shooting from the field, 39.7% from three and 71.7% from the foul line while allowing 65.6 PPG on 38.9% shooting from the floor and 32.2% from three this season.

The Minnesota Golden Gophers will try to add to a 72-56 win over Wisconsin-Green Bay in their last game. Jamison Battle leads Minnesota in scoring with 18.9 PPG along with 6.5 RPG while Payton Willis has 16.3 PPG with 4.6 RPG and a team-high 4.1 APG to lead the Gophers in assists and K.J. Stephens has 11 PPG to make up the trio of double-digit scorers for Minnesota so far this season. Eric Curry also leads Minnesota on the glass with a team-high 6.8 RPG as well this season. As a team, Minnesota is averaging 72 PPG on 46.7% shooting from the field, 36.5% from three and 72.4% from the foul line while allowing 63.1 PPG on 41% shooting from the field and 24.8% from three this season.

Illinois is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall and 9-4 ATS in their last 13 road games against a team with a winning home record while the over is 4-1 in their last 5 games against a team with a winning record. Minnesota is 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 home games and 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 home games against a team with a winning road record while the over is 4-1 in their last 5 games overall.

I can make the case for either side here, but I think the stronger argument can be made for Minnesota. Illinois hasn’t been as dominant as last year’s team if we’re comparing apples to apples and Minnesota’s been playing their best basketball by far at home this season. I’m not going out on the proverbial limb and saying that Minnesota wins outright, but I think this is just too many points. Give me the Gophers here.