The Big Ten Tournament features a four-game lineup for the quarterfinals on Friday, March 13. The Wisconsin Badgers (23-9) and the Illinois Fighting Illini (24-7) will battle in the second matchup of the day, tipping off at 2:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
Let’s dive into the numbers and make a Wisconsin vs. Illinois prediction on the spread. Make your college basketball 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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Wisconsin vs. Illinois Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
Illinois is 8-2 in the last 10 head-to-head matchups, but Wisconsin won the last two battles. On February 10, the Badgers defeated the Fighting Illini, 92-90, in an overtime thriller as 9.5-point underdogs. After covering three consecutive point spreads vs. Illinois, will Wisconsin stay hot?
The Badgers’ hot streak carries to its last 10 games, touting 7-3 outright and against the spread (ATS) records. The Illini are 6-4 outright and 5-5 ATS in the split, including a 1-3 ATS mark over its past four contests.
Wisconsin vs. Illinois Spread, Over/Under
According to PrizePicks Team Picks, Illinois is an 8.5-point favorite — similar to February 10’s 9.5-point spread. Will Wisconsin pull off another upset vs. the Illini with its 4x payout to win?
- Spread: Illinois Fighting Illini -8.5
- Over/Under: 158.5
- Gamer Winner Payout: Wisconsin 4x | Illinois 1.25x
Team picks data is live as of publishing and is subject to change.
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Wisconsin vs. Illinois Prediction on Spread – 3/13/26
Wisconsin F Nolan Winter has missed his last two games from an ankle injury, and his status is up in the air for Friday afternoon’s matchup. He leads the team with 8.6 rebounds per game (RPG), while his 13.3 points per game (PPG) ranks third.
The glass has posed problems for the Badgers, ranking in the 41st and 72nd percentiles of offensive and defensive rebounding rates. Illinois, meanwhile, sits in the 99th and 80th percentiles of offensive and defensive rebounding percentages.
Wisconsin was out-rebounded by -16 and -12 in its last two games, so how did the Badgers emerge victorious? They’ve been red-hot from 3-point land, making 33-of-73 attempts (45.2%) in the two-game split.
Wisconsin G Nick Boyd posted 23.0 PPG while converting 6-of-9 triples (66.7%), while G John Blackwell racked up 29.5 PPG and cashed in 11-of-22 3-point shots (50.0%) over the past two games.
This is one of the nation’s top teams in 3-point volume, hoisting 32.2 attempts per game (99th percentile). Illinois allows 26.2 shots from deep per contest (11th percentile) and a 41.5% 3-point shot distribution (29th percentile), per Bart Torvik.
The Badgers drained 16-of-36 treys (44.4%) in the previous head-to-head matchup. Friday’s collision could allow Wisconsin to lean on its usual formula, providing a potential angle for college basketball predictions.
Make Wisconsin vs. Illinois Picks on PrizePicks
Will Wisconsin maintain its video game-like numbers from beyond the arc? Friday’s quarterfinal matchup could have fireworks, with the Badgers and Fighting Illini each in the top seven of adjusted offensive efficiency.
Make your Wisconsin vs. Illinois picks and Big Ten Tournament predictions at PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks, where you can earn real-money rewards for your predictions if you’re right.
Just choose players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and follow the hoops action to see if your picks hit. You can make picks on winners, spreads, and over/unders on Team Picks, now available in 35 states.
Keep tabs on the Playbook for continued college basketball predictions, picks, and news all the way through the NCAA Tournament.
