Courtside Players Club NCAAB 1-3 Units (1/26/25)

NCAAB

1 Pick (3 Units).

3PM EST: Illinois -8 (3 Units).

Illinoi's better than Northwestern in just about every major category but this is a good spot. The Fighting Illini are in need and hungry for a win, having lost 3 of their last 4. They're fresh off an embarrassing Home Loss to Maryland a game after they nearly upset Michigan State on the road. Northwestern is solid defensively, but they are rather weak on the offensive end of the floor. Illinois's ranked 11th in defensive rating and it's that defense that'll bust the mini slump. They're 27th in offensive rating but they love to play fast and get out in transition. Hard to run the floor when the other teams making baskets and you're stuck inbounding from the sideline. They can get back to their roots a bit here and play their brand of basketball. They're very well coached under Brad Underwood. He took them to the Elite 8 last year and we trust him to settle his guys and right the ship.