Illinois vs. Wisconsin Prediction: Can AJ Storr, Badgers Bounce Back at Home?
The Fighting Illini take on the Badgers on Saturday afternoon in a Big Ten matchup. Can AJ Storr and the Badgers bounce back at home after losing to Indiana on the road? Ben Rajavuori provides his Illinois vs. Wisconsin prediction and pick.
Ben Rajavuori - March 2, 2024, 10:00 AM EST
5 minIllinois vs. Wisconsin Prediction: Can AJ Storr, Badgers Bounce Back at Home?
No. 13 Illinois travels this weekend to Madison, Wisconsin, to take on the Wisconsin Badgers. The Illinois Fighting Illini enter this game with a 21–7 record and a 12–5 record in Big Ten conference play. Wisconsin has recently dropped out of the top 25 rankings as they have dropped to 18–10 on the season and 10–7 in conference play. This is a big game for Wisconsin as they have gone 2-6 over their last eight games and need a big home win badly. The line opened at Wisconsin -1.5 and almost immediately moved to -2.5. What should we expect in this game?
Illinois vs. Wisconsin DATE, TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH
- Date: March 2, 2024
- Game Time: 1:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: BTN
Illinois vs. Wisconsin Prediction
As previously mentioned, Wisconsin has only won two of their last eight games. However, five of those six losses were on the road. Wisconsin has played very well at home this season and holds a home record of 13–2. Illinois, on the other hand, is 4–5 on the road this year. Illinois has beat Maryland, Ohio State, Michigan, and Rutgers on the road in conference play this season, and have dropped road games against Purdue, Northwestern, Michigan, State, and Penn State.
While Wisconsin has been cold recently, I expect them to really get up for this game against Illinois and put on one of their best performances of the season. We have seen them beat teams like Marquette and Virginia in non-conference play, while also holding a very strong home record of 7–1 at home in Big Ten conference play.
The Badgers are balanced all around with a good offense and defense, and the addition of transfer AJ Storr from St. John’s was a massive grab for the Badgers. With experienced players like fifth-year senior Tyler Wahl and fourth-year juniors Steven Crowl and Max Klesmit, they are a very experienced team that has been playing together for multiple years now.
Wisconsin only has a few games left this year, and this is their last chance at home to grab a big win before heading to the conference tournament, as they play Rutgers at home next Thursday and Purdue on the road in their season finale a week from Sunday. Given that they have struggled on the road and have now fallen out of the rankings, I expect them to come out with a fire under their butt in this game on Saturday and prove that they are still a top-25 team in the nation. Illinois is under .500 on the road this year and I think the line moving from -1.5 to 2.5 early on Friday is a big indicator that this line should be higher on Wisconsin.
Illinois vs. Wisconsin Pick
Pick: Wisconsin -2.5 -110 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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