The Nebraska Cornhuskers (23-9, 12-8 BIG) play the Illinois Fighting Illini (24-8, 14-6) today in the Big Ten Conference tournament. The Cornhuskers are a team that needs to show that they can win in a neutral court environment. However, their spot in the tournament is secure. Meanwhile, Illinois is looking to advance and face the likely winner of the other game, Purdue. Illinois is the best team that can match up against Purdue and hopes to win the Big Ten Tournament championship.
But do you see Nebraska pulling off an upset victory today?
Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | MoneyLine |
| Nebraska Cornhuskers | +4.5 -108 |
O 153.5 -110 |
+160 |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | -4.5 -112 |
U 153.5 -110 |
-192 |
| **Odds Courtesy of DraftKings** | |||
Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Illinois Fighting Illini Game Details
- Fixture: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Illinois Fighting Illini
- Date and Time: March 16, 2024 @ 3:30 pm EST
- Location: Target Center in Minneapolis, MN
Apex Tale of the Tape
| Nebraska Cornhuskers | Vs. | Illinois Fighting Illini |
| 23-9 | Record | 24-8 |
| 77.3 | Points Per Game | 83.7 |
| 45.2 | FG% | 47.0 |
| 36.0 | 3PT% | 34.9 |
| 37.8 | Rebounds Per Game | 41.4 |
| 69.2 | Points Allowed Per Game | 73.0 |
| 39.4 | Defensive FG% | 43.0 |
| 31.7 | Defensive 3PT% | 34.5 |
| 69.4 | Defensive FT% | 71.1 |
| 36.8 | Defensive Rebounds Against | 32.8 |
| 4-1 | Last 5 W-L | 4-1 |
| 71.5 | Team Pace | 70.1 |
Key Stats
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska is coming off a dominant win. However, they beat a less talented Indiana Hoosiers team. But Brice Williams led the team with 23 points yesterday. Furthermore, Keisei Tominaga remains one of the more electric players and also contributed 23 points last night. His hot shooting from three often leads the way. Finally, Jamarques Lawrence pitched in 15 points off the bench. At least two of the Nebraska Cornhuskers players will need to have at least 18 points. Otherwise, it will be difficult for them to beat the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois has two of the best scorers in the nation on the same team. Terrence Shannon Jr. averages 21.9 points per game for this team, but Marcus Domask averages 15.7 points for this team. Therefore, they have two equally capable scorers who can put the ball in the basket in any given one-on-one situation. However, there are two frequent defensive lapses that can often be cause for concern. Therefore, for the Illinois Fighting Illini to ensure a victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers, they need to make sure that their focus is on getting back in transition on defense.
Injury Report
Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Eli Rice – Out
- Blaise Keita – Out
- Ramel Lloyd Jr. – Out
- Ahron Ulis – Out
Illinois Fighting Illini
- Max Williams – Out
Game Prediction
Illinois is one of the best-scoring teams in the nation. Furthermore, their ceiling is incredibly high. However, as mentioned earlier, their defense gives up too many points. Therefore I am picking the Nebraska side to cover the spread. Meanwhile, the Illinois Fighting Illini are more than capable of warding off the best punches from Nebraska. But I see them keeping this game within striking distance. Therefore, I am also taking the over as the Nebraska Cornhuskers should be able to give enough scoring for this to hit.
Final Pick
Nebraska Cornhuskers +4.5 and Over 153.5
About the Author
Gabriel is a lifelong sports fan. Pick a sport, and he’ll enjoy talking about it with you! From football to soccer, combat sports, and volleyball! You can follow Gabriel on Twitter @BigTenGabriel to enjoy all of his great content. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel, where we do several shows daily.
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