Two Big Ten title contenders meet in Champaign, Illinois, when Rutgers visits Fighting Illini on Saturday followingnoon.
Rutgers have struggled on the road this season, and it won’t be any easier once morest an Illinois team that had more time to prepare following Minnesota postponed its midweek game.
The Scarlett Knights have to deal with the injury of striker Mawot Mag, will it cost them dearly once morest Illinois?
Here are the odds for this Big Ten showdown:
Rutgers vs Illinois – odds, spread and total
Rutgers vs Illinois: Predictions and Player Picks
Mags’ loss is massive for Rutgers, who are 10 points worse on defense and 9 points worse on offense without him. on off the ground this season, according to Hoop-Explorer.com.
Illinois has taken the money since opening the season with a 2.5-point lead on Friday followingnoon, and now that point spread is inflated to the point that I’m not interested. However, I am interested in the total which has increased by four points since opening, and I have my eye on the minus.
The loss of Mags will hurt the Scarlett Knight defense, which is second in the KenPom rankings for adjusted defensive efficiency, but the offense will be a real problem as the Illinois defense is in the top 10 in two-man defense. points this season. Rutgers are a poor three-point shooting team and prefer to play inside the arc (40th in three-point shooting this season), but that plays directly into Illinois’ strength in defense.
I expect a tough battle on Saturday and I’ll take the least in this Big Ten game.
Follow all of Reed’s bets at Betstamp HERE
Game odds are refreshed periodically and are subject to change.
