Minnesota vs Illinois Odds and Picks

• Big Ten conference play begins for #13 Illinois and Minnesota on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 7:00 PM ET
• Minnesota (6-0) remains unranked amid an unbeaten start, while Illinois (4-2) has faced a much tougher schedule
• Check out the odds for the game, as well as matchup analysis and a pick, in the article below

Minnesota has done everything right so far, entering conference play on a six-game win streak to open the season. Illinois, meanwhile, has lost a pair of games already — while also knocking off one of the best teams in the country.

On Tuesday, the Golden Gophers and Fighting Illini enter their respective Big Ten schedules from different angles: Minnesota wants to prove it’s a legitimate power, while Illinois wants to bounce back to show they aren’t a fluke.

Here’s what the odds look like entering the game:

 Minnesota vs #13 Illinois Odds

Odds as of Dec. 14 at FanDuel.

How They’ve Fared So Far

Illinois’s schedule started very easy and has progressively become more difficult. In the Illini’s first two games, they dusted a pair of schools outside KenPom’s top 300 rankings by over 50 points each. Then they played Ohio (KenPom’s No. 108) and squeaked out a two-point win.

Then their real schedule began, with a loss against No. 2 Baylor, a win over No. 21 Duke and a loss against No. 16 Missouri. That Missouri loss, which happened Saturday, came by a score of 81-78. If Illinois had won, they’d still be ranked in the top 10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2mSpKjj4CQ

While Illinois has already faced three teams inside KenPom’s top 50, Minnesota has faced zero. In fact, the Gophers have only played one team inside the top 100: No. 97 Boston College, who they beat in overtime.

Minnesota is 6-0, and maybe that’s what matters, but they have yet to play a road game — until this coming Tuesday, that is.

ATS Analysis

Neither team has been stellar against the spread so far: a 3-3 record for Illinois, and a 2-3-1 record for Minnesota.

Dating back to last season, Illinois is 4-6 ATS in its past 10 and 2-3 ATS in its past five home games. Minnesota is 5-4-1 ATS in its past 10, including 1-1 ATS on the road in their past two (they haven’t played a true road game since March 4).

"I'll take our chances running with anybody."

Check out this week's @jimmyjohns Freaky Fast Break.

*There's more than one alley-oop pic.twitter.com/wn8GLPhbyw

— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) December 11, 2020

It’s worth noting that these teams have seen the over hit in 9 of their combined 12 games this year. That’s certainly something to watch for.

Injury Notes

There are no headliner injuries to speak of here, but the Gophers do have a pair of contributing players who are listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game: guard Tre’ Williams and forward Brandon Johnson.

Williams, a sophomore, has appeared in five games and averaged 3.4 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. Johnson, a senior transfer, is averaging 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game through five appearances.

Western Michigan grad transfer Brandon Johnson on what he brings to @GopherMBB: “Regardless if I’m scoring or if my shot is falling one night, I can still impact the game enough in order for my team to get a win.” @StribSports @BHerbo_trey5 pic.twitter.com/uxcqw2BYjd

— Marcus R. Fuller (@Marcus_R_Fuller) April 9, 2020

But Johnson, an ex-Western Michigan player, has flashed an ability to do more; he scored 15 points in a nine-point win over North Dakota on Dec. 4.

Head-to-Head Matchup

These teams have met four times in the past three seasons, splitting both the straight up and ATS matchups. Last year, they played just once — and Illinois came out with a 59-51 win to cover a six-point spread.

Minnesota had one player score double digit points in that game (Daniel Oturu, 20), but he has since moved on to the NBA. Illinois had four double-digit scorers, and three of them are back this season.

A combination of factors — strength of schedule, Minnesota’s inexperience on the road, disparity in key returnees — leads up to advise rolling with the Illini for this game.

Pick: Illinois -N/A (-110)