The Illinois Fighting Illini will look to continue their recent mastery over the Michigan Wolverines when they meet in a key Big Ten Conference matchup on Thursday night. The Fighting Illini (19-10, 10-8 Big Ten), who are 14-2 on their home court this season, have won the last five matchups with Michigan. The Wolverines (17-12, 11-7), who are 3-5 on the road in 2022-2023, are on a three-game winning streak after Sunday's overtime win over Wisconsin. Illinois leads the all-time series 92-85.
The game from the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois, will tip off at 7 p.m. ET. Michigan is averaging 73.4 points per game, while Illinois averages 74.2. The Fighting Illini are 5-point favorites in the latest Michigan vs. Illinois odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 144. Before making any Illinois vs. Michigan picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters Week 17 of the season 76-46 on all-top rated college basketball picks this season, returning more than $1,600 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Michigan vs. Illinois and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college basketball odds and betting lines for Illinois vs. Michigan:
- Michigan vs. Illinois spread: Illinois -5
- Michigan vs. Illinois over/under: 144 points
- Michigan vs. Illinois money line: Michigan +185, Illinois -225
- MICH: The Wolverines are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games following an ATS win
- ILL: The Fighting Illini are 5-1 ATS in their last six games following a straight-up loss
- Michigan vs. Illinois picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Illinois can cover
Freshman guard Jayden Epps has played well in a number of roles, and has started 11 of 29 games played. He scored 10 points in Sunday's loss at Ohio State, and has reached double-digit scoring in four of his past five games. He has scored 10 or more points in 20 games, including a season-high 21 points in a 103-65 win over Monmouth on Nov. 14. He is averaging 10 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
Junior forward Coleman Hawkins also powers the Fighting Illini, averaging 9.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 blocks and one steal per game. He is coming off a 14-point and seven-rebound performance at Ohio State. He has scored in double figures in 14 games, and has registered two double-doubles and one triple-double. He scored 15 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 10 assists in a 73-44 win over Syracuse on Nov. 29.
Why Michigan can cover
Junior center Hunter Dickinson leads the Michigan attack, and is coming off his second consecutive double-double. He scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the 87-79 overtime win over Wisconsin. In that game, he drained the tying 3-pointer as time expired to send the game into the extra session. He has 11 double-doubles on the year. For the season, he is averaging 17.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 assists per game. He is connecting on 55.2% of his field goals, including 40.4% from 3-point range, and 74.3% from the free-throw line.
Sophomore guard Kobe Bufkin has been red hot of late, and is coming off a 28-point and eight-rebound effort against Wisconsin on Sunday. It was his eighth consecutive double-figure scoring game. He has recorded one double-double on the season, a 15-point and 12-rebound performance in a 68-51 win at Northwestern on Feb. 2. For the year, he is averaging 13.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 steals.
How to make Illinois vs. Michigan picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 142 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can get the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Michigan vs. Illinois? And which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks, and find out.
