We are going to jump on this number early, as our model suggests Northwestern should be favored in this matchup. For those who value KenPom as a resource, the KenPom model is also calling for an outright win for Northwestern. This Northwestern team has lost 3 games this season, and all 3 were against formidable opponents (Auburn, Pitt, Ohio State). The strength of Northwestern is on the defensive side of the ball, they rank 7th in the nation in defensive efficiency. The real key in this matchup is how well Northwestern defends inside the perimeter, which is where Illinois does their damage offensively. Illinois also turns the ball over a lot on offense, they rank outside the top 300 nationally in turnover percentage. A team that doesn’t take care of the ball is a dream matchup for a defense like Northwestern. We will take the 2.5 points in a game that should go down to the wire. Our wager is 1 unit.

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