Two teams that can meet for the Big Ten championship in a few weeks hook up for a crucial matchup in Champaign.
The third-ranked Michigan Wolverines (26-5) are on the doorstep of locking up the top seed for the conference tournament at 16-1.
The tenth-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini (22-5) sit in a three-way tie for second place with Michigan State and Nebraska at 13-4.
Let’s look at the Michigan vs. Illinois spread prediction for Friday’s showdown at State Farm Center in Champaign, tipping off at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
Make your CBB picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money if you’re right, including on game winners, spreads, and totals.
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Michigan vs. Illinois Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
This series has been all Illini, winning nine straight matchups since 2019.
Illinois routed Michigan last March in Ann Arbor, 93-73 as three-point underdogs. Each of the last three victories by the Illini have come by more than 15 points.
Michigan’s last victory over Illinois came way back in January 2019, a 79-69 triumph in Champaign.
Michigan vs. Illinois Spread, Over/Under
The Wolverines enter this matchup as 1.5-point favorites, returning a 1.69x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Fighting Illini are home underdogs with a 2.04x payout if they win, where you can earn money with your picks in 34 states.
- Spread: Michigan -1.5
- Over/Under: 157.5
- Game Winner Payout: Michigan 1.69x | Illinois 2.04x
(Team Picks data is live as of writing and is subject to change)
Michigan vs. Illinois Prediction on Spread
Here are some key stats to know before locking in your Michigan vs. Illinois prediction on spread for Friday, February 27 on PrizePicks.
- Since going through an 0-7 against the spread (ATS) slump in January, Michigan has covered in five of the past eight games.
- The Wolverines lost their second game last Saturday to Duke, 68-63, marking their lowest point output of the season.
- Michigan rebounded with a 77-67 victory on Tuesday over Minnesota, but failed to cash as 21.5-point favorites.
- Head coach Dusty May’s squad owns a perfect 9-0 road record in Big Ten play.
- Illinois is 14-3 in the last 17 games with all three losses coming in overtime.
- The Fighting Illini were tripped up at UCLA last Saturday, 95-94 as 6.5-point favorites.
- In five underdog opportunities, Illinois covered three times, including victories over Nebraska (78-69), Purdue (88-82), and Tennessee (75-62).
- The Wolverines rank in the top-five nationally in both offensive efficiency (5th) and defensive efficiency (2nd).
- Michigan is the top team in Big Ten action in 2-point shooting at 60.9%. Illinois is third in league play in defending the 2-point shot at 49.3%.
- All six conference teams Illinois has defeated at home own losing records in Big Ten play.
Michigan vs. Illinois Picks for PrizePicks Today: 2/27/26
Here are three top Michigan vs. Illinois picks to target on Friday. Key PrizePicks player projections are headlined by three players: Illinois G Keaton Wagler, Michigan F Morez Johnson, Jr., and Illini G Andrei Stojakovic.
Illinois G Keaton Wagler vs. Michigan Projection: 16.5 Points
- The dynamic freshman is ninth in scoring in the Big Ten at 18.2 points per game (PPG).
- Wagler bypassed this projection in three of four games, capped off by a 19-point effort at UCLA.
- In six of eight home conference games, the Kansas native topped the 17-point mark.
- In the past three outings, Wagler struggled from 3-point range, shooting 2-of-11. On the season, he’s converting 42% from deep.
Michigan F Morez Johnson, Jr. vs. Illinois Projection: 20.5 Pts+Rebs
- Johnson averages 13.3 PPG and 7.3 rebounds per contest, both career-highs.
- The sophomore was held to 6 points and 7 rebounds against Minnesota, his lowest point total since January 20.
- He posted more than 21 points and boards in four of five games before failing to reach that number in the last two outings.
- Johnson faces his former team for the first time after averaging 7.0 PPG with Illinois in his freshman campaign.
Illinois G Andrej Stojakovic vs. Michigan Projection: 11.5 Points
- The son of former Sacramento Kings sharpshooter Peja averages 13.8 PPG in his first season with Illinois.
- The junior went through a three-game stretch of scoring at least 17 points before getting held to 8 points in the UCLA loss.
- His top scoring output came against Maryland on January 21, putting up 30 points on 9-of-18 shooting.
- Stojakovic hit this projection in the first five conference games, but finished below 11 points in six of the last 10 against Big Ten foes.
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Make Michigan vs. Illinois Picks on PrizePicks
The Wolverines look to end their hex against the Fighting Illini tonight. Can Illinois pick up another underdog win or will Michigan keep up its winning ways?
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