The Michigan Wolverines take on the Illinois Fighting Illini in Champaign, IL. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
Michigan is favored by 1.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -115. The total is set at 157.5 points.
Here’s my Michigan vs. Illinois prediction and college basketball picks for February 27, 2026.
Michigan vs Illinois Prediction
My Pick: Illinois +1.5
My Michigan vs Illinois best bet is on the Illini to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Michigan vs. Illinois Odds
| Michigan Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -105 | 157.5 -110 / -110 | -115 |
| Illinois Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -115 | 157.5 -110 / -110 | -105 |
- Michigan vs Illinois spread: MIchigan -1.5
- Michigan vs Illinois over/under: 157.5 points
- Michigan vs Illinois moneyline: Michigan -115, Illinois -105
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Michigan vs Illinois College Basketball Betting Preview
Michigan Basketball
The Wolverines are looking to win consecutive contests after having dropped just their second game of the season this past Saturday against Duke.
Dusty May’s bunch currently projects to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Leading the way for a Michigan offense scoring 90 points per game is Yaxel Lendeborg. The forward is scoring over 14 points per game while tallying over seven rebounds on average.
Alongside Lendeborg in the frontcourt, Morez Johnson Jr. is also having a spectacular season, posting over 13 points per contest. The sophomore has been one of the most efficient offensive forwards in the entire country, converting on 68% of his field goal attempts, which ranks fourth nationally.
The two forwards headline a Michigan frontcourt that boasts a ton of size and impressive athleticism. Lendeborg and Johnson have created matchup nightmares for opposing forwards all season long.
Elliot Cadeau adds further experience to this Wolverines roster, operating the point guard position for an offense that works like a well-oiled machine. While the former Tar Heel is just an average scorer, he remains unbelievably effective with the ball in his hands, posting 5.5 assists per contest.
Cadeau is the floor general for a Wolverines offense that ranks fifth in the country in offensive efficiency, per KenPom, while excelling on the other end of the floor, as well.
Cadeau has been a stellar on-ball defender this season despite his small frame, using his elite athleticism to his advantage when picking up opposing guards in the full-court.
Michigan’s defense is allowing just over 68 points per contest, maintaining a point differential upwards of +20. The Wolverines have the second-most efficient defense in college basketball, with Duke having just re-claimed the top spot after Saturday's game betwen the two.
The Wolverines' frontcourt is even more impressive defensively, with 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara serving as one of the best rim protectors nationally.
While he's posting 11 points and over seven rebounds this season, his presence in the paint on the defensive end of the floor has made him one of the most valuable players in the Big Ten.
In Saturday’s loss to Duke, Mara picked up two fouls very early in the game, which ended up playing a substantial role in the Wolverines' loss.
Illinois Basketball
The Illini come into this Friday game with a 22-6 overall record. Illinois just suffered a very disappointing road defeat this past Saturday, losing to UCLA on a buzzer beater.
After an extremely impressive 11-game win streak, the majority of which was played without star point guard Kylan Boswell while he nursed a fractured hand, the Illini have lost some momentum, dropping three of their last five games.
Freshman phenom Keaton Wagler carried the load for the Illini in the absence of their senior leader and premier defender. Wagler scored over 20 points per game without Boswell in the lineup, and quickly cemented himself as one of the best freshman in the country.
At full strength, the Illini have one of the most explosive offenses in college basketball, scoring over 85 points per contest this season. Per KenPom, Illinois has the most efficient offense in the country.
Illinois' backcourt boasts superb athleticism with an uncanny ability to light it up from beyond the arc. In addition to Boswell and Wagler, Andrej Stojakovic — the son of former NBA star Peja — is posting nearly 14 points per game.
Brad Underwood’s frontcourt has tremendous size and versatility, featuring several bigs who can stretch the floor and score from anywhere. David Mirkovic is shooting over 40% from deep, while also dominating on the glass, with over eight rebounds per contest.
The Illini excel on the other end of the floor as well, as 7-foot-1 Croatian center Tomislav Ivisic, and his brother — Zvonimir (Big Z) — play a massive role in Illinois’ defensive frontcourt.
Underwood’s defense is allowing just 69 points to opposing offenses this season, maintaining an impressive +16 scoring margin. According to Haslametrics, the Illini rank 29th in the nation in defensive efficiency rating.
In an Underwood era that's featured some very talented Illini squads, this may be his most complete roster from top-to-bottom yet.
Michigan vs. Illinois Betting Analysis
Friday night’s Big Ten affair is a very challenging handicap in what sets up to be one of the best matchups of the entire season.
The two conference foes both possess elite versatility and firepower on offense, with overwhelming size and athleticism on the other end of the floor.
The tremendous depth of Illinois’ roster has posed matchup nightmares for opposing defenses all season long, featuring an array of talented players that present contrasting offensive skillsets — all of which are extremely difficult to account for simultaneously.
While I'm holding futures tickets on Michigan to cut down the nets, the Wolverines are running into an extremely motivated Illinois team looking to avoid four defeats in its last six contests.
Though far from a high-confidence spot, I don't mind backing the home 'dog Illini getting points versus a Wolverines squad that's looked rather unimpressive in its last two contests.
I'll reluctantly take a shot on a highly-motivated Illinois bunch to cover the spread on its home floor.
My Pick: Illinois +1.5
