Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Preview

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— Monday, November 29th Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Illinois Fighting Illini

The 2021 ACC/Big ten Challenge is set to begin this week, and there are some interesting and impressive matchups yet again. The Illinois Fighting Illini host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in one such matchup on Monday night.

Notre Dame comes into this matchup with an overall record of 3-2, but the Fighting Irish could be 5-0. This team has lost two games by nine total points and have looked much better than preseason predictions.

Illinois has gone 4-2 on the year, but that’s actually a much worse start than anticipated. The Fighting Illini were a top-10 team in the preseason, but they are still trying to figure some things out.

Illinois is a 6.5-point betting favorite over Notre Dame on Monday night.

Fighting Irish Must Defend

If Notre Dame is going to keep this game close on Monday, then they have to find a way to get some stops. Notre Dame is allowing just 62 points per game, and it’s going to take a big effort to slow down the Illini.

Notre Dame is not a team that is going to put up a ton of points on offense, but they do have some guys capable of scoring well. Guard Dane Goodwin leads the team with 15.0 points per game, and he is also shooting 94 percent from the free-throw line.

The Fighting Irish are much smaller than Illinois, and they will have to find a way to rebound to win this game. Life on the road in this challenge is never easy, but these teams feel pretty evenly matched.

Cockburn Carrying Injured Illini

The Fighting Illini have been dealt a number of tough blows this season, and it’s unclear how many players will be suiting up for this game. One player that will be on the floor is Kofi Cockburn, and he has been dominant to begin the year.

Cockburn just poured in 38 points and grabbed ten rebounds in a recent win, and he is going to be a matchup problem for Notre Dame. Alfonso Plummer has been hot from the outside as well, and Illinois will have to make shots to win.

The Fighting Illini are going to need to play great on the defensive end of the floor to find a way to get past Notre Dame.

Irish Upset Illini in Tight Battle

Illinois was supposed to be one of the best teams in the country this season, but things just haven’t been working out that way. The Fighting Illini are dealing with plenty of adversity and injuries, and they are going to struggle to score against Notre Dame.

The Fighting Irish have not yet picked up a win against a great team, but they have been in close games. Notre Dame is going to make the big shots in this one in a game that goes back and forth.

Bet the Notre Dame Fighting Irish moneyline as they go into Champaign-Urbana and pick up a win over the Illinois Fighting Illini.

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