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This NCAA intriguing conference duel will take place on Thursday, March 2, and here you have a chance to check out the best Wolverines vs. Fighting Illini betting pick and odds.



Michigan is hoping to record the fourth consecutive win when they visit Illinois at State Farm Center. The Fighting Illini are 5-point favorites on <a href="https://www.bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betonline/">BetOnline Sportsbook</a>, while the total is set at 143.5 points. These Big Ten rivals will meet for the first time this season.



Wolverines beat Wisconsin in overtime



The Michigan Wolverines (17-12, 15-13-1 ATS) are on a three-game winning streak for the third time this year, and now are looking to make it four in a row for the first time this season. The Wolverines comfortably defeated the Michigan State Spartans and Rutgers Scarlet Knights and then had a lot more problems against the Wisconsin Badgers at home. Michigan was on a brink of loss when Hunter Dickinson made a three-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime. The Wolverines won 87-79 in the end. The hosts shot 49.2% from the field and hit as twice as many free throws (22-11).



Sophomore guard Kobe Bufkin led the Wolverines with a career-high 28 points, eight rebounds, and two steals. Hunter Dickinson registered a double-double of 23 points and team-high ten boards along with a game-high four assists and two blocks, and Dug McDaniel scored 20 points.



G Jaelin Llewellyn (ACL) is done for the season, while G Jett Howard has sat out the previous two games with a right ankle injury, and it is uncertain if he will suit up Thursday against Illinois.



Fighting Illini’s poor first-half offense cost them at Ohio State



The Illinois Fighting Illini (19-10, 17-12-0 AST) were hoping for the third victory in a row following wins over the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Northwestern Wildcats, but the Ohio State Buckeyes had other plans. The Fighting Illini scored just 29 first-half points and allowed 41, so the Buckeyes didn’t have a tough task to maintain a solid lead and celebrate a 72-60 win. Illinois wasn’t good enough from the floor (36.1%) and from downtown (20.7%), while Ohio State was much better in rebounds (40-28).



Junior forward Coleman Hawkins led the Fighting Illini with 14 points, a team-high seven rebounds, and two steals. Matthew Mayer had 11 points and two blocks, Terrence Shannon Jr. chipped in ten points and four boards, while Jayden Epps scored ten points.



Trends:



Michigan:



<ul>
<li>2-5 ATS in the last seven road games</li>



<li>2-5 ATS in the last seven road games vs. a team with a winning home record</li>
</ul>



Illinois:



<ul>
<li>5-1 ATS in the last six games following a straight-up loss</li>



<li>8-3 ATS in the last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight-up record</li>
</ul>



Michigan Wolverines vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Pick



The Wolverines have a negative record on the road this season, while Illinois won each of the last five games at home. The visitors will be limited offensively if they play without Jett Howard, even though his absence didn’t hurt Michigan in the latest game. He is the team’s second top scorer with 14.4 points per game, so if he isn’t available, the chances for the Fighting Illini will be bigger to outscore the rivals. Illinois is averaging 74.2 ppg opposite Michigan’s 73.4 ppg. It’s going to be a close one, but I am giving an advantage to the home court.



Pick: Take the Fighting Illini at -2.5 (-133)



The Total



Michigan is struggling when it comes to scoring away from home recently. The Wolverines failed to score more than 61 points in four of the last five games on the road, and without Howard here, I doubt they can score enough to help us win the Over bet. Illinois is playing well defensively at home in the past few weeks. Under is 4-1 in the Wolverines’ last five road games; Under is 7-3-1 in the Fighting Illini’s previous 11 overall, while Under is 4-1-1 in Illinois’ last six home games.



Pick: Go Under 145.5 points (-133)

Michigan Wolverines vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Odds, Pick, Prediction 3/2/23

Michigan Wolverines vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Odds, Pick, Prediction 3/2/23

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