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Illinois vs. Michigan Prediction, Odds & Expert Picks Today: Best Bets & Projections

Mike Spector

Last Updated: March 2, 2025 10:28 AM EST • 4 min 23 sec read.

We offer our best Illinois vs. Michigan predictions.
Pictured: Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis drives past Duke guard Isaiah Evans. Photo by Wendell Cruz via Imagn Images.

The Michigan Wolverines look to inch closer to a Big Ten regular-season title when they host the Illinois Fighting Illini this afternoon.

Michigan has won eight of its last nine games, while Illinois is reeling having lost three of its last four. Thus, it is not a surprise to see the Wolverines listed from 2.5 to 3.5-point favorites, with tipoff from the Crisler Center set for 3:45 p.m. ET (CBS).

Our Illinois vs. Michigan prediction and odds make our best against the spread pick and our top player prop bet. Will Michigan’s momentum continue, or is Illinois getting healthy enough to pull off the road upset?

💰 Illinois vs. Michigan predictions, expert picks & best bets today

Here are my best Illinois vs. Michigan predictions, expert picks, and best bets today with my pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale. Be sure to check out the rest of our college basketball picks along with our guide on how to bet on college basketball.

  • Against the spread pick: Illinois +3.5 (-115 via BetMGM) vs. Michigan ⭐⭐
  • My best player prop bet: Kasparas Jakucionis Over 15.5 points (-110 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Exact score prediction: Michigan 82, Illinois 80 (+17000 via DraftKings) ⭐

🏀 Illinois vs. Michigan ATS prediction & best player prop bet pick

I’m predicting Illinois to cover the spread (+3.5) in this matchup and also am backing Kasparas Jakucionis to go Over 15.5 points.

✅ Illinois to cover the spread: +3.5 ⭐⭐

Illinois snapped a three-game losing streak with an 81-61 victory over Iowa on Tuesday night. The Fighting Illini lost three straight to Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Duke by an average of 26 points, suggesting that something was not right with the team.

Head coach Brad Underwood hinted at rampant illnesses being spread throughout the team when they chose not to participate in the postgame handshake line after the Wisconsin game.

Fortunately, for Illinois, the worst of it seems to be in the past, as Morez Johnson (7.2 points, 6.6 rebounds per game) was the only player who did not suit up in the team’s win over Iowa.

This is a two-star play, as Illinois has the defensive personnel to contend with Michigan’s unique frontcourt that features two 7-footers (Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin).

The Fighting Illini not only rank ninth nationally in 2-point percentage allowed, but they also run teams off the 3-point line at an elite rate. Illinois allows the third-lowest percentage of opponents’ field-goal attempts that come from 3-point range (30.2%).

BetMGM and DraftKings are the only two best sports betting sites offering a spread as high as +3.5. But BetMGM is our preferred shop as the juice at DraftKings is slightly higher at -118.

📊 Best odds: -115 via BetMGM (bet $10 to win $8.70)

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🔥  Kasparas Jakucionis Over 15.5 points ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If Illinois is going to cover on the road, it likely needs a big bounce-back performance from its most pro-ready player.

Jakucionis has been held to single digits in four of his last eight games, but he's also mixed in three games of 17 or more points in that span.

I expect Illinois’ five-out style will be effective against a bigger Michigan team, drawing its 7-footers away from the basket and creating more driving lanes for Jakucionis. 

Michigan allows the second-lowest assist rate per made field goal in league play (47.3%). But that suggests Underwood will identify favorable defensive assignments on Jakucionis and let his playmaker go to work.

Jakucionis ranks in the top 16 in the conference in possession rate, and he finishes at the rim at a top-25 rate in Big Ten play.

📊 Best odds: -110 via FanDuel (bet $10 to win $9.09)

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🎯 Expert Illinois vs. Michigan score prediction

🔮 Expert score prediction: Michigan 82, Illinois 80

Illinois is just 1-5 ATS as an underdog this season, but many of those losses have come with a compromised roster. That is why I think this line is a tad inflated, and I'm predicting a final score of Michigan 82, Illinois 80. 

📊 Best odds: +17000 via DraftKings (bet $10 to win $1700)

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📊 Live Illinois vs. Michigan odds & latest betting splits

Here are the latest odds for Illinois vs. Michigan, which update live in real time. You can also check out our NEW college basketball player prop odds tool for the latest college basketball odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your region.

🔢 Illinois vs. Michigan opening odds

Here's a look at the opening odds for Illinois vs. Michigan according to BetMGM.

  • Spread: Illinois +2.5 (-110) | Michigan -2.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under: Over 159.5 (-115) | Under 159.5 (-105)
  • Moneyline: Illinois +118 | Michigan -145

📺 How to watch Illinois vs. Michigan tonight

📅 Date: Sunday, March 2
🕗 Time: 3:45 p.m. ET
📍 Location: Crisler Center (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
📺 TV: CBS
💻 Streaming: CBS

❓ Illinois vs. Michigan FAQs

Who is favored to win Illinois vs. Michigan?

Michigan is listed as a slight moneyline favorite to beat Illinois. The Wolverines are trading at -145 at our best sports betting apps, giving them a 59.18% implied probability.

What are the betting odds for Illinois vs. Michigan?

Michigan is anywhere from a 2.5 to 3.5-point favorite over Illinois today. The total is set from 158.5 to 159.5 points.

What will be the final score of Illinois vs. Michigan?

We're predicting a final score of Michigan 82, Illinois 80 entering today's matchup at Crisler Center.

What time is Illinois vs. Michigan tonight?

Tipoff for Illinois vs. Michigan is slated for today at 3:45 p.m. ET.

⛹️ Best college basketball betting sites

Looking to bet on college basketball tonight? Here are our best March Madness betting sites as determined by our expert team at Sportsbook Review, along with our best March Madness betting promos ahead of the NCAA Tournament.

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Written By:
Mike Spector
Mike started in the sports writing industry in July 2019, and gained a lot of followers in his first year after finishing with the No. 2 overall record in an annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an Over/Under and moneyline perspective. Mike is an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, tennis, and all college sports. In his opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and he's especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. Mike's a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." When making wagers, Mike always scours the best odds at all of the major sports betting sites, where he mostly sifts through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365. He's tried several others and is of the firm belief that bettors should not just stick to one sportsbook, as there is always likely better value to be had with the same wager. In addition, while Mike received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University, he has no issue betting against the Wildcats when it comes to college basketball wagering, and suggests other bettors should always put their “head” before their “hearts.”