Iowa Hawkeyes at Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Preview/Prop Pick

It’s the final day of the college basketball regular season, and there are some terrific matchups lined up for the last day. The Illinois Fighting Illini host the Iowa Hawkeyes in one of these games, and this should be a terrific showdown at the State Farm Center. 

Iowa comes into this game on an absolute tear as they have won five straight games. The Hawkeyes are now 22-8 on the year, and they continue to improve their NCAA Tournament seed with every victory. 

Illinois is 22-8 on the season, and they still have a chance to share the Big Ten crown with a win and Wisconsin loss. The Fighting Illini picked up a win in Iowa City earlier this year and are looking for a season sweep. 

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 3.5-point betting favorites over the Iowa Hawkeyes in this huge matchup.

Hawkeyes Lighting it Up

The Iowa Hawkeyes are a terrific offensive team, and that offense has carried them during this five-game winning streak. Iowa is scoring over 83 points per game this season, and they have scored at least 82 points in each of their last four games. 

Keegan Murray might be the Big Ten Player of the Year as he leads the team with 23.3 points per game. Murray is shooting an incredible 57 percent from the floor, and he is surrounded by other players that can make shots.

Defense has been an issue for the Hawkeyes at times as they are giving up 71 points per game. Iowa will have to play great interior defense to come away with this win. 

Illini Have Plenty of Experience

The Fighting Illini are a team that is loaded with experience, and those veterans simply know how to win Big Ten Conference games. Illinois is scoring 76 points per game this season and are holding opponents to just 68 points per game.

Kofi Cockburn is leading the Illini with 21 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, and he has the ability to take over any game. Trent Frazier and Alphonso Plummer are elite three-point shooters, and they keep a defense honest. 

Illinois does not want to get into a track meet with the Hawkeyes, and they will use the defense and the play of Cockburn to slow this game down. 

Illini Handle the Hawkeyes

Iowa has had little trouble scoring the basketball over the last few weeks, but don’t expect that to continue on Sunday. Illinois has been a terrific defensive team, and this is a game that will be played at a much slower pace. 

Kofi Cockburn is going to be the difference in this game as the Hawkeyes just don’t have anyone that can slow him down. Look for Illinois to be the better offensive team on Sunday, and that will allow them to pick up a big and important victory. 

Bet the Illinois Fighting Illini -3.5 as they are able to pick up an 8-10 point victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes in this showdown.

Prop Pick

Iowa (-110) UNDER 75.5 Points

Illinois is allowing 67.6 points per game on defense, which ranks No. 135 in the nation. That average decreases to 65.4 points per game at home. Scores have gone UNDER in eight of the Fighting Illini’s last 11 games versus teams with a winning record (Iowa is 22-8 SU).

With Dunkel predicting an Illinois victory by the score of 76-69, take the Hawkeyes (-110) to finish UNDER their Vegas team total of 75.5 points against the Fighting Illini.

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