Michigan guard Kobe Bufkin dribbles in opposition to Wisconsin in the course of the second half of U-M’s 87-79 additional time win on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, at Crisler Heart.
- Michigan meets Illinois in a Massive Ten matchup on Thursday, March 2nd
- Illinois is a house favourite over Michigan on the State Farm Heart
- Try all the percentages and Michigan vs Illinois predictions, beneath
The Wolverines have lots of work to do. If Michigan (17-12, 11-7 Massive Ten) has any hope of constructing the NCAA event a win in opposition to Illinois on Thursday night time is essential. Nonetheless, at this level, a ticket to the event isn’t any certain factor. The Wolverines face off in opposition to the Combating Illini on Thursday night time in a must-win contest. This 12 months’s Michigan vs Illinois recreation is bound to be an exhilarating affair.
Illinois (19-10, 10-8 Massive Ten) have been soundly crushed by Ohio State 72-60 on Sunday. A 41-point first half from the Buckeyes had the Illini on their heels from the bounce, and the boys in orange didn’t recuperate.
Michigan vs Illinois will get underway on Thursday, March 2nd at 7pm ET. Till then take a look at all the percentages and our greatest bets for Michigan vs Illinois beneath.
Michigan vs Illinois Odds
| Staff | Unfold | Moneyline | Whole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | +3.5 | +142 | Over 144.5 (-110) |
| Illinois | -3.5 | -172 | Underneath 144.5 (-110) |
Michigan enters this matchup as 3.5-point underdogs in Thursday’s school basketball odds. Whereas the full for Michigan vs Illinois sits at 144.5. Michigan has coated the unfold in three straight video games, whereas Illinois has coated simply as soon as of their final 5 video games performed.
Importantly, the Combating Illini have received 5 straight video games in opposition to Michigan, together with a 93-85 victory final season. Furthermore, the Wolverines have didn’t win in Champaign for the reason that 2015-16 marketing campaign.
Odds as of March 1st on FanDuel. Declare the FanDuel Sportsbook promo code.
Michigan Betting Developments
After struggling out of the gate to start this season, the Michigan Wolverines have been on a tear of late. Juwan Howard’s males demolished their competitors in February, successful 6 of their 8 video games performed.
Having stated that, the Wolverines nonetheless have work to do in the event that they wish to compete within the NCAA event.
The shot that saved Michigan’s event hopes alive pic.twitter.com/AeY7UFoZLt
— Faculty Basketball Evaluate (@CbbReview) February 26, 2023
Whereas Hunter Dickinson hit an enormous shot to maintain Michigan’s hopes alive in an eventual additional time win over Wisconsin, the ultimate two common season video games might be enormous for the Wolverines. Most bracketologists have Michigan on the bubble for an NCAA event berth. Successful each of their last common season video games, and at the very least one recreation within the Massive Ten event might be essential.
Fortunately, the Wolverines can depend on sophomore guard Kobe Bufkin who has been lighting it up up to now in 2023. Bufkin scored a career-high 28 factors within the additional time win over Wisconsin and has scored in double figures in every of the final eight contests. Kobe is a large cause the Wolverines are on a 6-2 streak. Bufkin will must be at his best possible on each ends of the court docket for Michigan to have any shot at ending its dropping streak vs Illinois.
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Illinois Betting Developments
On the flip aspect, the Combating Illini will goal to get their season again on monitor after struggling a demoralizing 72-60 loss to Ohio State on Sunday.
Sadly, the group might come into Thursday’s recreation distracted after freshman guard Jayden Epps went down at Tuesday’s observe. Whereas Epps appears to be positive, he’ll miss this contest, leaving Illinois with out its third-leading scorer. The Illini will sorely miss his dynamism within the backcourt.
.@Jaydenepps_ 𝐯𝐬. 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲
Epps tore out on a solo 8-0 run to begin the second half final night time 😤#Illini | #HTTO | #EveryDayGuys pic.twitter.com/J5BMWFtPGS
— Illinois Males’s Basketball (@IlliniMBB) February 21, 2023
Brad Underwood’s group isn’t determined to win this recreation, as Illinois is at present projected to be a no.9 or 10 seed within the event. That being stated, they’re hardly a high group within the NCAA Match champion odds.
With out Epps, Illinois will lean much more closely on Texas Tech switch Terrence Shannon Jr. The Illini’s main scorer at simply over 17 factors per recreation, Shannon Jr. is capturing almost 38% from three at residence on the 12 months.
Michigan vs Illinois Prediction
Juwan Howard has by no means defeated Illinois as head coach of the Wolverines, dropping every of his 5 matchups. Thursday’s recreation can be a wonderful place to vary that.
Whereas the Illini are clearly the higher group this season, it is a must-win recreation for Michigan. The Wolverines are outfitted with a way more environment friendly protection. Couple that with the truth that this Illinois group struggles with turnovers and now we have all of the makings of an upset. Take the underdogs to tug out the victory on Thursday night time.
Michigan vs Illinois Decide: Michigan to win +142
Nick Holz
A sports activities betting aficionado and graduate of Toronto Movie Faculty, Nick covers the NFL, NBA, Soccer, and MMA for SBD. He’s additionally an avid NBA podcaster, and sports activities betting TikToker. Nick’s work has been featured on Bleacher Report.
