NCAA Free Picks and Tips: Wisconsin Badgers at Illinois Fighting Illini
Sunday, January 22, 2012
by Joe Rodriguez
The Illinois Fighting Illini puts its perfect home record on the line when it hosts Wisconsin Badgers in a battle between two upper-tier Big 10 teams.
The No. 25 Illini are 11-0 at home and have shown the ability to win close games; they are 7-2 in games decided by six or fewer points. Neither team qualifies as an offensive juggernaut - Illinois averages 67.9 points and Wisconsin averages 65.5.
But the Badgers get the big edge on defense as they allow only 49 points, ranking them No. 1 in the country, as opponents only make 35.4 percent of their shots from the floor.
Wisconsin is 5-2 away from home this season. Illinois leads the all-time series 110-75 after the teams split last year but Wisconsin has won eight of the last 12 meetings.
- Wisconsin Badgers @ Illinois Fighting Illini
When: 2:00 PM ET, Sunday, January 22, 2012
Where: Assembly Hall, Champaign, Illinois
TV: 2 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
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Justbet Sportsbook currently have the Badgers listed as 1-point favorites versus the Fighting Illini.
Wisconsin Badgers (15-5): Preseason All-American Jordan Taylor is averaging 13.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists. He ranks sixth in scoring in the Big Ten with 16.9 points in conference games and averaged 20 points in two games against the Illini last season. Taylor, one of 20 finalists for the Cousy Award, has scored at least 19 points in each of his last three games against Illinois. Jared Berggren (10.6 points) is the only other player averaging in double figures. Ryan Evans averages 9.9 points and 6.8 rebounds, fourth in the conference.
Illinois Fighting Illini (15-4): Brandon Paul averages a team-high 14.2 points, but is averaging 20.3 in conference games, best in the Big Ten. Paul had 15 points in the second game against the Badgers last season. Meyers Leonard, a 7-foot-1 sophomore, is averaging 13.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. D.J. Richardson averages 12.6 points and has made 40 percent of his 3-point field goals. He has also had 14 double-digit scoring games this year and 51 for his career. Richardson scored 12 points against the Illini in the 2010 Big Ten tournament.
1. Illinois has won 14 straight at home, the second-longest in the conference behind Ohio State.
2. The first team to reach 60 points is 19-1 over the last 10 seasons.
3. Illinois is 10-2 in games decided by single digits.
BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Fighting Illini 60, Badgers 56.
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assembly hall - brandon paul - d.j. richardson - illinois fighting illini - jared berggren - jordan taylor - meyers leonard - ryan evans - wisconsin badgers
