Illinois Fighting Illini vs
Minnesota Golden GophersPredictions & Preview

Illinois Fighting Illini Look to Continue Dominance Over Minnesota Golden Gophers in Big Ten Showdown

The Illinois Fighting Illini (15-8, 7-6 B10) are set to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers (12-11, 4-8 B10) in a Big Ten conference game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Saturday. The last meeting between these two teams resulted in a 105-97 win for Illinois on Feb. 28, 2024. Illinois is favored to win with a -6.5 point spread. For more insights and predictions, be sure to check out our Illinois vs Minnesota prediction.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Fighting Illini -305 | Golden Gophers +238
• Spread: Fighting Illini -6.5 (-110) | Golden Gophers +6.5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 145.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Illinois will win straight-up is 75%.

Illinois vs Minnesota Stats

Illinois Fighting Illini

The No. 23 ranked Illinois Fighting Illini have recently faced challenges in their performance, losing four of their last six games and struggling in their last three road games. Despite this, Illinois has maintained a balanced team, ranking 16th on defense and 23rd on offense according to KenPom. Freshman Kasparas Jakucionis leads the team in scoring and assists, while sophomore Tomislav Ivisic leads in rebounding. In their recent loss to Rutgers, bench players Will Riley and Ben Humrichous emerged as the leading scorers. Offensively, Illinois ranks 7th in the nation in scoring, shooting percentages, and rebounding, while defensively they excel in field goal and three-point defense. Overall, Illinois has a 15-8 record and is positioned 201st in power rankings.

Minnesota Golden Gophers Analysis

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are on a successful streak with back-to-back winning seasons in sight. They have recently secured key victories against ranked opponents like Michigan and Oregon. Led by senior forward Dawson Garcia, who was named to the top-10 list for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, Minnesota's offense has been a force to be reckoned with. Senior guards Brennan Rigsby and Lu'Cye Patterson have also been instrumental in the team's success, contributing significantly to their recent comeback win against Penn State. With an overall record of 12-11, the Golden Gophers are rated 91st by KenPom, boasting a solid defensive ranking of 79th and 109th offensively. Despite some struggles in shooting percentages, particularly in free throws, Minnesota's strong defensive rebounds and low turnovers have helped them stay competitive. Looking ahead, the Golden Gophers are focused on maintaining their momentum and securing more key victories in the coming matchups.

Illinois Dominates Head-to-Head, but Minnesota Covers Spread in Recent Meetings

Illinois has emerged victorious in their past seven matchups against Minnesota; however, the Gophers have managed to cover the spread in their two most recent meetings. Conversely, the Illini have struggled on the road, posting a 1-4 record against the spread in their last five away games within the Big Ten conference. On the other hand, Minnesota has been performing well, winning five of their last six games outright as underdogs. With a strong momentum, I anticipate Minnesota to cover the spread in this upcoming game, especially with their key player, Dawson Garcia, showcasing top-notch scoring abilities on the court.

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