The Minnesota Golden Gophers take on the Illinois Fighting Illini in Champaign, IL. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. ET on BTN.
Illinois is favored by 15.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -1700. The total is set at 139.5 points.
Here’s my Minnesota vs. Illinois prediction and college basketball picks for January 17, 2026.
Minnesota vs Illinois Prediction
My Pick: Minnesota +15.5 (Play to +14)
My Minnesota vs Illinois best bet is on the Golden Gophers 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.
Minnesota vs. Illinois Odds
| Minnesota Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+15.5 -110 | 139.5 -110o / -110u | +950 |
| Illinois Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-15.5 -110 | 139.5 -110o / -110u | -1700 |
- Minnesota vs Illinois spread: Illinois -15.5
- Minnesota vs Illinois over/under: 139.5 points
- Minnesota vs Illinois moneyline: Minnesota +950, Illinois -1700
Minnesota vs Illinois College Basketball Betting Preview
Minnesota Basketball
Minnesota is out to a 10-7 start, but it's had a decent schedule. The Golden Gophers have lost six games to teams inside the top 69 on KenPom. Their only questionable result was a 77-65 loss to San Francisco (101st on KenPom).
They also look to control the pace of the game, ranking 352nd in adjusted tempo and 267th in average possession length before a shot attempt at 18.1 seconds.
Minnesota likes to rotate the ball offensively, which is reflected in its No. 1 ranking in assists per field goal made (the Gophers assist on 75.5% of their made field goals).
This might present issues for Illinois, because if the Illini struggle to create turnovers, the Gophers might find some success.
Illinois Basketball
The 13th-ranked team in the AP Poll is one of the highest-rated teams by the metrics as well. Illinois is ranked fifth overall in KenPom and has thrived thanks to its superior length.
The Illini are the biggest team in college basketball by KenPom's average height metric, which has anchored an interior defense that ranks 15th in the country in 2-point field goal percentage allowed.
Illinois is the best team in the nation at limiting teams' ability to get to the free-throw strike (19.9 FTA/FGA according to KenPom). The Illini's only weakness defensively is their ability to create turnovers. They rely mostly on shot blocking and opponents' inability to get clean looks.
Their size has also been a major factor in their 11th-ranked offensive rebounding percentage. Illinois has just three losses this season, all of which have come against teams ranked within the top 16 on KenPom. The Illini rank 10th in KenPom's strength of schedule metric overall.
The Illini have a strong backcourt, with their three top scorers playing the guard positions, including Andrej Stojaković, son of former NBA player Peja, who averages 13.9 points per game.
In total, five Illinois' players are averaging double figures, but strong guard play is something that Minnesota might be able to compete with.
Minnesota vs. Illinois Betting Analysis
At 15.5, it’s hard to lay the points. Just two of the Gophers' seven losses have been by more than 12 points, and their other five losses have been by 12, four, 11, one and three.
As Illinois has settled into conference play with a 5-1 start, four of its wins have come within an 11-point margin.
While I won’t necessarily take a big risk on the moneyline, I like the Gophers to keep this game a bit closer than the experts think.
My Pick: Minnesota +15.5 (Play to +14)
