Friday is usually the worst day of the week in terms of good college basketball matchups, and it’s rare to find two ranked teams facing off. However, that’s the case from the Big Ten as No. 9 Maryland visits No. 20 Illinois, with the Illini as slight favorites on the College Basketball betting odds.
How to Bet Maryland at Illinois NCAA Basketball Odds & TV Info
Circle these games, folks. The rankings are obviously subject to change, but regardless, they will be huge for league standings. Feb. 4: No. 15 Maryland vs No. 25 Rutgers Feb. 7: No. 15 Maryland at No. 19 Illinois Feb. 15: No. 15 Maryland at No. 14 Michigan State
— Lila Bromberg (@lilabbromberg) February 1, 2020
- When: Friday, 8 PM ET
- Where: Farm Center, Champaign, Ill.
- Radio: Marryland / Illinois
- Live Stream: Fighting Illini Productions
- NCAAB Odds: Illinois -3
Last Meeting
Clubs played a great game on Dec. 7 with Maryland winning 59-58 at home. Anthony Cowan Jr. hit a tying 3-pointer in the final 20 seconds and a go-ahead free throw with 2.1 seconds left as Maryland rallied from a 15-point deficit. Cowan had 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Illinois led 39-25 at halftime and briefly pushed its lead to 15 in the second half. Trent Frazier scored 13 points for Illinois, which nearly claimed its first road victory over a top-five team since 1989. Illinois played for the final possession, but guard Andres Feliz turned it over and fouled Cowan in the ensuing scrum.
Why Bet on Maryland?
The Terps won their fifth in a row Tuesday, 56-51 over Rutgers to remain unbeaten at home. The Terrapins trailed 25-20 at halftime after shooting 24%. With Jalen Smith leading the way, Maryland (18-4, 8-3 Big Ten) emerged from the break with a 14-4 run and held off a late surge by the Scarlet Knights to improve to 13-0 at home. Three free throws by Anthony Cowan put the Terrapins up 52-49 with 2:12 to go. Myles Johnson answered with a dunk, but the Scarlet Knights did not score again.
Smith, a 6-foot-10 sophomore, notched his fifth straight double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds and blocked six shots. Cowan scored 17. Smith has been named one of 10 candidates for the 2020 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award.
Smith has put together an All-American season, averaging 15.2 points and 10.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. He has been even better in Big Ten play, averaging 17.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks, while shooting 51-percent from 3 and 58-percent overall. Smith has totaled 13 double-doubles in 22 games overall, a mark that is tied for the Big Ten lead and ranks sixth nationally. Over his last five games, Smith is averaging 20.3 points (.592 FG), 11.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks.
Cowan Jr. needs 1 point to pass Terrence Morris (1733) for 11th on Maryland’s all-time scoring list. Cowan recently passed Terp legend John Lucas (1972-76) for fifth on Maryland’s all-time assists list. He is also second all-time in free throws made. Cowan is one of two players in Maryland history to record 1,700 points and 520 assists (Greivis Vasquez).
Maryland Terrapins 2020 NCAA Betting Trends and Stats Betting Trends
- Maryland are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Maryland’s last 15 games.
- Maryland are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games.
- Maryland are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games against Illinois.
- Maryland are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games on the road.
- Maryland are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games this season.
- Maryland are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games against an opponent in the Big Ten conference.
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Maryland’s last 7 games played in February.
Team Stats
Offense
- Total Score: 71.55
- Field Goal %: 41.25
- Three Point %: 31.58
- Free Throw %: 73.83
- Total Rebounds: 39.82
Defense
- Total Score: 62.73
- Field Goal %: 38.41
- Three Point %: 36.4
- Free Throw %: 69.47
- Total Rebounds: 34.09
Why Bet on Illinois?
Illinois is one of the big surprises in the Big Ten, but the Illini (16-6, 8-3) lost last time out at No. 18 Iowa on Sunday, 72-65. Luke Garza, the Big Ten’s leading scorer, bounced back from a slow start to score 25 points and clamped down in the final four minutes. Garza, who added 10 rebounds for his 13th double-double of the season, didn’t have a point in the first 15 minutes. He wound up making four 3-pointers on nine attempts, both career highs, and shot 9 of 16 overall.
Illinois, which had won seven in a row, led 62-61 with 4:03 to play. But the Hawkeyes then shut out the Illini until Ayo Dosunmu hit a 3 with four seconds left. Andres Feliz scored 17 points and Trent Frazier added 12 for Illinois.
The Illini’s 7-game conference winning streak had been its longest in 15 years, since setting a school record with 25 consecutive Big Ten victories spanning the 2004 (10) and 2005 (15) seasons (Jan. 31, 2004-March 3, 2005).
Illinois currently has four Quad 1 wins – three of those coming on the road. The Illini’s home wins over Michigan and Purdue, slipped from Quad 1 to Quad 2 over the last week. Illinois has surpassed last year’s win total by four games and last season’s Big Ten win total by one game. Illinois leads the Big Ten in scoring defense during league play, allowing 60.1 ppg. The Illini rank second in both field goal percentage defense (.378) and 3-point percentage defense (.270) in conference games.
For this game, the Illini will be wearing the late 1970s white throwback uniforms that were unveiled earlier this season.
Illinois Fighting Illini 2020 NCAA Betting Trends and Stats Betting Trends
- The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Illinois’ last 14 games.
- Illinois are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games.
- Illinois are 7-0 SU in their last 7 games at home.
- Illinois are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games this season.
- The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Illinois’ last 12 games against an opponent in the Big Ten conference.
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Illinois’ last 5 games played in February.
- Illinois are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games played on a Friday.
Team Stats
Offense
- Total Score: 74.71
- Field Goal %: 44.28
- Three Point %: 31.73
- Free Throw %: 73.41
- Total Rebounds: 35.33
Defense
- Total Score: 74.18
- Field Goal %: 45.61
- Three Point %: 31.19
- Free Throw %: 73.98
- Total Rebounds: 40.36
Maryland vs Illinois Expert Analysis and Prediction
Maryland 66 – Illinois 65
