Maryland at Illinois odds, picks and predictions

Nathan Beighle
Staff Writer

The No. 10 Illinois Fighting Illini (12-3, 3-1 Big Ten) welcome the Maryland Terrapins (10-6, 2-3) to State Farm Center Sunday. Tip is set for 2 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Maryland vs. Illinoisodds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.

Illinois is No. 10 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. It beat the Michigan State Spartans 71-68 Thursday, pushing as a 3-point home favorite. The Fighting Illini have won 5 of their last 6 games and have covered 9 of their last 11, pushing the 2 they didn't cover. Illinois is 9-4-2 against the spread (ATS). It is led by F Marcus Damask, who is averaging 14.1 points per game.

Maryland beat the Michigan Wolverines 64-57 Thursday, covering as a 6-point home favorite. The Terrapins are 5-11 ATS on the season and have lost 2 of their last 3 games. They are 3-6 ATS over their last 9. Maryland has struggled in Big Ten play and is 1-4 ATS against conference opponents. It is led by G Jahmir Young, who is averaging 19.3 points per game.

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Maryland at Illinois odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 11:40 p.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Off the board
  • Against the spread (ATS): Maryland +8.5 (-110) | Illinois -8.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 138.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Maryland at Illinois picks and predictions

Prediction

Illinois 74, Maryland 62

Moneyline

PASS.

The ranked home favorite should win, but isn't worth a play on the moneyline -- if one is listed.

Against the spread

BET ILLINOIS -8.5 (-110).

The Terrapins have not been good in this position. They have played 4 true road games and have covered in just 1 of them, a 69-60 win against the UCLA Bruins, a team that just took a 90-44 beatdown loss to the Utah Utes. Maryland is 1-4 ATS in conference games and 1-3 ATS on the road.

Illinois is as hot on the spread as any other team in the country. It has covered 9 of its last 11 and is 9-0-2 ATS in that span. It is 3-0-1 ATS in conference play and 1-0-1 ATS in conference home games.

Couple those trends and back ILLINOIS -8.5 (-110).

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Over/Under

LEAN UNDER 138.5 (-110).

The Fighting Illini can score, but the Terrapins are less proven on the offensive end. They have scored 53 in 2 of their 5 conference games and have scored 65 or fewer in all 5. They are 1-4 O/U in Big Ten play and 5-11 O/U on the season.

Illinois is 8-7 O/U and is 2-2 O/U in conference play. It has scored more than 80 in under half of its games this season (7 of 15). Expect Maryland's tempo to win out and back UNDER 138.5 (-110).

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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