The Northwestern Wildcats take on the Illinois Fighting Illini in Champaign, IL. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET on BTN.
Illinois is favored by 15.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -2200. The total is set at 151 points.
Here’s my Northwestern vs. Illinois predictions and college basketball picks for February 4, 2026.
Northwestern vs Illinois Prediction
My Pick: Illinois -15.5
My Northwestern 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.
Northwestern vs. Illinois Odds
| Northwestern Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+15.5 -110 | 151 -110 / -110 | +1100 |
| Illinois Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-15.5 -110 | 151 -110 / -110 | -2200 |
- Northwestern vs Illinois spread: Illinois -15.5
- Northwestern vs Illinois over/under: 151 points
- Northwestern vs Illinois moneyline: Northwestern +1100, Illinois -2200
Northwestern vs Illinois College Basketball Betting Preview
Northwestern Basketball
Northwestern is desperately looking for answers after losing eight of its last 11 games. The Wildcats are 10-12 overall and 2-9 in conference.
Nick Martinelli continues to have a monster season, leading the country in scoring with an average of 23.7 points per game.
Unfortunately for Northwestern, no one outside of Martinelli can shoot the ball from deep. As a team, Northwestern is 270th in 3-point shooting, including Martinelli's 47.6%.
If Northwestern wants to pull off an upset miracle, someone has to help Martinelli, even if he scores 30 points.
Tre Singleton has been reliable as of late, scoring in double figures in four out of the last five games, including a monster game at Penn State (17 points, 18 rebounds).
The Wildcats will need to do everything they can to keep Illinois off the offensive glass, and Singleton will have to step up to that challenge.
Illinois Basketball
Illinois is coming off one of the best wins of the season, beating Nebraska on the road, 78-69.
The Fighting Illini are now 19-3 overall and 10-1 in Big Ten play and are back home to face a struggling Northwestern team.
Illinois has the best offense in the country, led by freshman Keaton Wagler.
Wagler is averaging 32 points per game while shooting a ridiculous 60% from the field and 63% from 3 in the last three games.
His scoring has taken the country by storm, but his facilitating out of the pick-and-roll has been the main reason Illinois has the best offense in the country.
In the month of November, Wagler had one game with four or more assists, and Illinois had the 17th-best offensive efficiency. Since December 1, Wagler has had four-plus assists in 11 games, and Illinois has had the best offense in the nation.
Kylan Boswell is expected to miss this game as he continues to recover from surgery, but Brad Underwood hopes to get him back in mid-February.
Jake Davis has done a nice job sliding into the starting lineup, averaging nine points per game while shooting 48% from 3.
Northwestern vs. Illinois Betting Analysis
The best offense in the country is facing off against one of the stronger defenses in the Big Ten.
However, I don't think Northwestern provides much resistance against Wagler and Illinois' physical frontcourt.
Wagler's pace is perfect for Underwood's scheme, and I expect things to continue to click for Illinois on the offensive end against a Northwestern team that's struggling to find itself in conference play.
My Pick: Illinois -15.5
