- Illinois maintained their momentum by smashing Arkansas for a 90-77 victory.
- Northwestern enters this match following a tough one-point loss against Iowa.
- In their last meeting on January 25, 2024, Northwestern won 96-91 over Illinois.
The 2024-25 college basketball season has heated up with intense matches and rivalries. Fans are excited for the upcoming game between Illinois and Northwestern. Both teams are in great form and have winning records. Our Illinois vs Northwestern prediction sees the Wildcats pulling off a surprise result.
Illinois Eyeing to Settle Previous Scores
With six wins out of their last seven games, Illinois will be confident when stepping out onto the court against Northwestern. With Tomislav Ivisic and Kasparas Jackucionis in tow, the Fighting Illini will be eyeing a win with this fantastic duo that has been filling up the stat sheet.
However, the lack of close games this season might leave Illinois with a big headache ahead of this rivalry game. The Illini would love to win on the road but might find it challenging against its old nemesis, Northwestern. Illinois’ best chance of winning will be to start hot on offense and keep the pressure on the Wildcats from start to finish.
Northwestern Focused on Pulling off an Upset
Northwestern might have an advantage coming into this conference matchup by playing two games more than Illinois. They are coming off a one-point loss to Iowa, and that should help them improve their ability in tight games, as Illinois has not played any games with a single-digit margin.
Brooks Barnhizer and Nick Martinelli, the two in-form stars with an overall season scoring average of 20.2 and 20.1, respectively, will likely continue their dominance in this match. In addition, Jalen Leach has been in great touch, providing scoring as the third Wildcat averaging double figures. The Wildcats should be confident at home and have the potential to beat their rivals if their top three guys continue playing well.
Illinois vs Northwestern Prediction: Northwestern Eyes More Wins
Since both teams will enter the court on Saturday with an impressive winning streak, it’s tough to predict who will claim the last laugh. However, we have a feeling that Northwestern will steal the show with a big win that few expect. They have a notable advantage on their own home court and will look to claim a key victory that could help them on Selection Sunday.
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