Michigan vs. Illinois Prediction
Big Ten rivals clash in Champaign, IL on Friday night when No. 25 Illinois hosts Michigan at 9:00 p.m. ET. Will the Fighting Illini continue their recent hot play or are the Wolverines the better play as an underdog?
Game Snapshot
895 Michigan Wolverines (+9.5) at 896 Illinois Fighting Illini (-9.5); o/u 144.5
9:00 p.m. ET, Friday, January 14, 2021
State Farm Center, Champaign, IL
TV: FS1
Illinois Fighting Illini Game Notes
Kofi Cockburn amassed 16 points (8-18 FG, 0-5 FT), 13 rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal across 30 minutes during Tuesday’s 81-71 win over Nebraska. Cockburn remained dominant in Tuesday’s victory and led Illinois on the boards. He’s now posted double-doubles in each of the last eight games and has averaged 19.6 points and 14.0 rebounds in 28.3 minutes per contest across that span.
Michigan Wolverines Game Notes
Hunter Dickinson and the Wolverines won’t play Tuesday versus Purdue due to ongoing COVID-19 issues within the Wolverines’ program. This will be the second consecutive postponement due to a COVID breakout within the program that seemed to begin last Tuesday when Brandon Johns, Zeb Jackson and Terrance Williams all did not travel with the team. Should the Wolverines gain clearance for enough players, the next matchup on the schedule is a tough road tilt against Kofi Cockburn and the Illini on Friday.
Illinois vs. Marquette Game Prediction
The Illini are 4-0 against the spread in their last four games as a home favorite, have covered in six of their last seven games as a favorite and are 4-1 against the number in their last five games overall. They’re also 6-1 at the betting window in their last seven games versus an opponent with a winning record and are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games played on Friday.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL BETTING PREDICTION: ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI -9.5