The Wisconsin Badgers (22-12, 11-9 Big Ten) and the No. 14 Illinois Fighting Illini (25-8, 14-6 Big Ten) meet in the Big Ten Championship Sunday afternoon. Tipoff at Target Center is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s'lines around the Wisconsin vs. Illinois odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
Wisconsin reached the title game by upsetting the top-seeded Purdue Boilermakers 76-75 in overtime on Saturday. G Chucky Hepburn scored a team-high 22 points, including the game-tying layup to send the game to OT. G Max Klesmit, who had 5 assists, knocked down a runner in the lane with under 5 seconds to play in the extra period to secure the win for the Badgers.
Illinois trailed Nebraska by double digits to close out the 1st half in the 2nd semifinal matchup Saturday, but the Illini surged ahead offensively in the final 20 minutes and beat the Cornhuskers 98-87. G Terrence Shannon Jr.' scored a season-high 40 points, a record for the most points scored in a Big Ten Tournament game.
This is the 2nd meeting this season. On March 2, Illini F Marcus Domask'scored a game-high 31 points in a 91-83 victory in Madison. Illinois has not lost to Wisconsin since 2019, winning the last 7 matchups.