The Big 10 rolls along on Thursday night as we get deeper and deeper into the basketball season! Teams get up for these quality matchups and bettors do too. At Online Sports Betting, we dig into another conference clash which should be a good one. First, we look at Big 10 Thursday Picks featuring the Michigan Wolverines. They entertain Illnois, a team ranked 14th in the nation with an eye towards the top ten once more.
- WHAT: Illinois Fighting Illini versus Michigan Wolverines
- WHEN: Thursday, January 18th, 2023, 8:30 pm ET on FS1 or streamed on FUBO TV
- WHERE: Crisler Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- WHY: Big 10 Thursday Matchup
The bettors are amped up and the fans are too. The Big 10 Thursday Picks focus on one of the more interesting teams in the nation. Now, betting on NCAA College Men's basketball futures is an adventure. Honestly, Illinois is not quite topping the futures at +4000. Here is that table once again for the Fighting Illini and Wolverines tonight, courtesy of Bovada Online Sportsbook.
| NCAAM Thursday Numbers |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois (-2.5) | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Michigan | -110 | -110 | -110 |
Big 10 Thursday Picks Wonder What To Make Of Michigan
Big 10 Thursday Picks wonder what to make of Michigan. So, this was a team that had higher expectations. Instead, the Wolverines have endured two downturns. One saw them lose five out of six then recently the Wolverines dropped five straight decisions to fall to 6-10 and 1-4 in the Big 10. That left some wondering if Juwan Howard was going to be fired. Naturally, Michigan rebounded against Ohio State. Truthfully, the Wolverines like playing the Buckeyes in all sports.
Despite that, this is a 12-win Illinois team facing a seven-win Michigan squad trying to turn its season around desperately. The Wolverines need to go on a run now. Having ten losses this early bodes poorly for their tournament chances. A few seasons ago this was a 23-5 team that missed a spot in the Final Four by a bucket. Now, they are just trying to get back to .500. Yes, that is an awfully big fall.
Can the Wolverines figure this out before it is too late? Time is wasting and the talent is at least there. This story still could produce a decent ending.
Some Start To Worry About Illinois
The Big 10 Thursday Picks start to worry about Illinois. Brad Underwood may not be it but some bettors are feeling antsy. This was a game where the line was 4.5 and has dropped to 2.5 now. Illinois was riding high and in the Top 10 last week before losing two of their past three games. A once promising 11-2 start is now clouded more because of the home loss to Maryland than anything else.
Some did not mind the road loss to Purdue. After all, it was a close game that the Fighting Illini had a shot of winning. Ultimately, Illinois lost that one by five points. They rebounded against Michigan State at home before the Sunday debacle. While Terrence Shannon had led the way, the depth for the Fighting Illini have played less than stellar. Without Shannon, Illinois did not have enough weapons to compete with Maryland in the second half of that game.
There was a little hope from the game though. Marcus Domask racked up 26 points in a losing effort. If he can knock down a few more shots, he can be the top offensive guy and provide a lift for the depth. Again, Illinois typically only goes seven or eight deep but those 2-3 reserves need to play better. Now, Shannon remains suspended definitely amid rape charges. Shannon filed a restraining order to get reinstated but chances seem low he plays again this season.
Now, Illinois must continue to adapt and play a different style. There have been growing pains and likely those will continue as the Fighting Illini try to navigate the Big 10 without their star Guard. The timing could not have been worse but this is the hand Illinois has been dealt with.
Big 10 Thursday Picks And Those 2.5 Points?
So, what about Big 10 Thursday Picks and those 2.5 points? The thing is it is hard to figure out Illinois and arguably Michigan as well. Talk about trying to guess how two teams who are states of upheaval will play against each other on Thursday night. Michigan has not been great at home but Illinois may feel a ripple effect from that second half flop against the Terrapins. Ironically, Maryland beat both of these teams by playing yes, intense defense in the late stages.
The Wolverines allow nearly 78 points per game normally. However, in the New Year, their games have not seen quite the same pace. It sounds crazy but with a little more bench depth, Michigan could force Illinois into foul trouble. Now, this will not be a pretty game. However, Michigan can keep it close and downright win as well. Here is the difference. With the 2.5-points, Michigan is at -110. On the Moneyline, that number jumps to +115.
There is this feeling that Michigan has a real chance here to turn back Illinois. Again, the Fighting Illini are at a real crossroads. If Michigan can establish their inside game early, Illinois may have trouble and hence a loss could be in the cards.
Do We Continue With The Under Tonight?
Lastly, Big 10 Thursday asks do we continue with the under for tonight? This game keeps jumping around. Consider the 153.5 game total for a second. Michigan games have not gone over this amount all year. They have come close in a few cases but again, the number has not hit. Illinois might try to up the tempo but without Shannon that may be easier said than done. Michigan might even back off a bit opting to try and shut the Fighting Illini down.
Rolling back to the under here is a wise move.
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