The Northwestern Wildcats (8-8, 0-5 Big Ten) are 9.5-point underdogs as they look to stop a three-game losing streak when they host the No. 13 Illinois Fighting Illini (13-3, 4-1 Big Ten) on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The contest airs at 8:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network. The matchup’s over/under is set at 151.5.
Check out all the Latest NCAA Basketball Betting Previews!
Illinois Cover -9.5 vs Northwestern -109
Illinois vs. Northwestern betting lines
- Illinois moneyline odds to win: -472
- Northwestern moneyline odds to win: +360
- Spread: Illinois (-9.5)
- Total: 151.5
Illinois statistics, trends and more
As the away team
- Illinois did a better job covering the spread when playing at home (10-7-0) last season than it did in road games (5-5-0).
- The Fighting Illini exceeded the total less consistently at home last year, hitting the over in eight of 17 home matchups (47.1%). In road games, they hit the over in six of 10 games (60%).
- As a moneyline favorite last year, Illinois picked up the win in 12 of 15 games when playing at home, good for a .800 winning percentage. Illinois won three of six games away from home (.500) as a moneyline favorite.
Recent trends
- The Fighting Illini’s offense has been worse over their last 10 games, scoring 80.1 points a contest compared to the 86.0 they’ve averaged this year.
- Illinois has been more stingy on the defensive side of the ball lately, giving up 66.4 points per game during its past 10 outings compared to the 67.4 points per game its opponents are averaging over the 2025-26 season.
- Over their last 10 outings, the Fighting Illini are making 0.1 fewer three-pointers per game than their season long average (10.2 compared to 10.3 season-long), while also shooting a lower percentage from deep in that span (34.5% compared to 34.8% season-long).
Illinois betting records this season
- ATS Record: 10-6-0 (Home: 6-3-0; Away: 2-1-0)
- ATS Record When Favored by 9.5+: 6-4-0 (As Favorite: 9-5-0; As Underdog: 1-1-0)
- O-U-P: 5-11-0 (Home: 3-6-0; Away: 2-1-0)
- Record When Moneyline Favorite: 12-2 (Home: 8-1; Away: 3-0)
- Record When Moneyline Underdog: 1-1 (Home: 0-0; Away: 0-0)
| Field Goal % | Opp. Field Goal % | Rebounds | Opp. Rebounds | Assists | Turnovers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47.7 (72nd in nation) | 39.5 (27th) | 39.1 (12th) | 27.8 (31st) | 14.8 (147th) | 9.8 (41st) |
Need to know more about sports betting before you put down a wager on Illinois vs. Northwestern? Here’s everything you need to know about how to bet.
Northwestern statistics, trends and more
As the home team
- Against the spread, Northwestern has performed better at home (3-5-0) than away (1-3-0).
- In terms of the over/under, Wildcats games have finished over less often at home (four of eight, 50%) than on the road (three of four, 75%).
Recent trends
- The Wildcats are averaging 77.2 points per contest over their last 10 games, which is 1.9 fewer points than their average for the season (79.1).
- Northwestern is ceding 73.8 points per game over its last 10 games, compared to its season average of 71.2 points allowed.
- The Wildcats are sinking 5.5 threes per game over their past 10 games, which is 0.7 fewer three-pointers than their average for the season (6.2). Additionally, they sport a lower three-point percentage over their past 10 contests (25.5%) compared to their season average from three-point land (30.8%).
Northwestern betting records this season
- ATS Record: 5-11-0 (Home: 3-5-0; Away: 1-3-0)
- ATS Record When Underdog by 9.5+: 1-1-0 (As Favorite: 3-9-0; As Underdog: 2-2-0)
- O-U-P: 10-6-0 (Home: 4-4-0; Away: 3-1-0)
- Record When Moneyline Favorite: 8-4 (Home: 6-2; Away: 1-1)
- Record When Moneyline Underdog: 0-4 (Home: 0-0; Away: 0-2)
| Field Goal % | Opp. Field Goal % | Rebounds | Opp. Rebounds | Assists | Turnovers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47.7 (72nd in nation) | 41.6 (81st) | 30.3 (289th) | 32.1 (240th) | 18.4 (18th) | 8.1 (first) |
BetDecider Team
The BetDecider team brings you the most current sports betting content, with expert insights and tips. Our aim is that you can make an informed betting decision, including best odds and exclusive sportsbook offers, to maximize your betting experience.
