Illinois vs. Maryland Prediction: Can Maryland get the Home Upset?

Illinois vs. Maryland Prediction: Can Maryland get the home upset?

The Maryland Terrapins will welcome the Illinois Fighting Illini to College Park, MD for an exciting Big Ten matchup on FS1 at 7 pm ET. Maryland has lost five of its last six games and is currently 1-6 in league play. Meanwhile, Illinois surrendered its first loss in league play in a double-overtime loss to Purdue, at home, on Monday. Will Illinois rebound against one of the weaker teams in the Big Ten? Here are our picks and predictions for the Big Ten matchup between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Maryland Terrapins.

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Illinois vs. Maryland Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

Date: Friday, January 21, 2022

Game Time: 7:00 p.m. ET

Where To Watch: FS1

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Illinois vs. Maryland Injury Report

Illinois

Out: G Austin Hutcherson (Hernia)

Maryland

Out: F James Graham III (Disciplinary)

Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Maryland Terrapins Betting Line Movement

Illinois vs. Maryland Prediction

On Monday, the Fighting Illini returned Andre Curbello, who played 26 minutes in his first game back in two months. Curbello was all over the place, scoring 20 points, earning six rebounds, and adding three assists while also totaling four fouls in those 26 minutes off the bench. He's going to be a big piece to the Illinois puzzle and an important one at that. The Fighting Illini are already 11th in the nation in offensive efficiency and are shooting an effective field goal percentage of 54.6 percent. Illinois has hit 38.1 percent of threes and 52.8 percent of shots inside the arc this season. Rebounding has been fantastic, especially on the offensive end, where Illinois is adding 39.3 percent offensive rebounds on a nightly basis. Turnovers can get high, at times, but with Curbello holding the ball a little bit more, while he is wild at times, through 26 minutes on Monday, he didn't have a single turnover. So if that can continue, Illinois should be fine against a Maryland team that isn't a turnover threat. Illinois isn't going to force turnovers on the defensive end either, however, they'll play extremely solid defensively and force tough shots. The Fighting Illini have allowed teams to shoot an effective field goal percentage of just 44.5 percent while limiting teams to 32.7 percent from deep and 42.7 percent from inside the arc. Maryland, on the other hand, is shooting a 48.2 percent effective field goal percentage while knocking down just 31.4 percent from three and 48.8 percent from two. Illinois should be able to get plenty of quality looks, and even on the road, I like Illinois' chances to cover the seven points on the road. Maryland already lost to Rutgers, on the road, 70-59, and couldn't defend the three. And then after that loss, Maryland came out extremely flat, on the road, against an underachieving Michigan team. I like Illinois in this spot.

Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Maryland Terrapins Pick

• PICK: Illinois -7 @ -110 (Bet $100 to win $90.91)