Who's Playing

Illinois @ Northwestern

Current Records: Illinois 14-5; Northwestern 9-9

What to Know

The Northwestern Wildcats have been on the wrong side of a one-way rivalry with the #24 Illinois Fighting Illini and are hoping to record their first win since Jan. 6 of 2019. Northwestern and the Fighting Illini will face off in a Big Ten battle at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Illinois will be strutting in after a victory while the Wildcats will be stumbling in from a defeat.

It was close but no cigar for Northwestern as they fell 72-70 to the Michigan Wolverines on Wednesday. Northwestern got double-digit scores from four players: forward Pete Nance (14), guard Boo Buie (13), center Ryan Young (13), and forward Robbie Beran (10).

Speaking of close games: Illinois escaped with a win on Tuesday against the Michigan State Spartans by the margin of a single free throw, 56-55. Guard Trent Frazier (16 points) was the top scorer for the Fighting Illini.

The Wildcats are expected to lose this next one by 5. Their home court has been no bettor's paradise, as they've failed to beat the spread in six of their ten home games.

Northwestern is now 9-9 while Illinois sits at 14-5. A pair of stats to keep in the back of your head while watching: Northwestern comes into the contest boasting the fifth fewest turnovers per game in college basketball at 9.1. Less enviably, Illinois is stumbling into the matchup with the 30th fewest takeaways in college basketball, having accrued only 11 on average.

How To Watch

  • When: Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET
  • Where: Welsh-Ryan Arena -- Evanston, Illinois
  • TV: Big Ten Network
  • Follow: CBS Sports App
  • Ticket Cost: $165.00

Odds

The Fighting Illini are a 5-point favorite against the Wildcats, according to the latest college basketball odds.

The line has drifted a bit towards the Fighting Illini, as the game opened with the Fighting Illini as a 3-point favorite.

Over/Under: -108

See college basketball picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine's advanced computer model. Get picks now.

Series History

Illinois have won eight out of their last 11 games against Northwestern.

  • Feb 16, 2021 - Illinois 73 vs. Northwestern 66
  • Jan 07, 2021 - Illinois 81 vs. Northwestern 56
  • Feb 27, 2020 - Illinois 74 vs. Northwestern 66
  • Jan 18, 2020 - Illinois 75 vs. Northwestern 71
  • Mar 13, 2019 - Illinois 74 vs. Northwestern 69
  • Mar 03, 2019 - Illinois 81 vs. Northwestern 76
  • Jan 06, 2019 - Northwestern 68 vs. Illinois 66
  • Dec 01, 2017 - Northwestern 72 vs. Illinois 68
  • Feb 21, 2017 - Illinois 66 vs. Northwestern 50
  • Feb 07, 2017 - Illinois 68 vs. Northwestern 61
  • Feb 13, 2016 - Northwestern 58 vs. Illinois 56

Injury Report for Northwestern

No Injury Information

Injury Report for Illinois

  • Andre Curbelo: Out (Illness)
  • Austin Hutcherson: Out for the Season (Back)