🏀 Michigan vs. Illinois Prediction & Odds: College Basketball Picks Today (Feb. 27)

In the biggest game on Friday's slate, No. 3 Michigan hits the road to take on a No. 10 Illinois team that's lost three of its last five games in overtime.

Michigan is a 1.5-point betting favorite for tonight's 8 p.m. ET tip (FOX) from State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill., and my Michigan vs. Illinois prediction is backing the Wolverines to win as part of my college basketball predictions for Friday.

🏀 Michigan vs. Illinois picks & odds today: Feb. 27

See all of our experts' college basketball picks based on the latest college basketball odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.

Total wagered: 3 units | Max profit: 3.49 units

💰 Michigan vs. Illinois prediction & best bet

Michigan ML (-125)

Neither of these teams has been playing like the March Madness odds favorite they've been billed as lately. However, the Fighting Illini's defensive woes appear to be serious after dropping three of their last five games and allowing 90 PPG in those losses.

Michigan is No. 5 in adjusted offensive efficiency and has seven different players scoring over 8.5 points per game in Big Ten play.

While Illinois does have the length to create mismatches, Brad Underwood's team hasn't faced a defense as locked in as Michigan's is this season. The Wolverines are No. 2 in adjusted defensive efficiency.

Score prediction: Michigan 83, Illinois 82

🔥 Best Michigan vs. Illinois player prop bet

L.J. Cason 10+ points (+175)

Despite being the favorite to win the NCAA Tournament, the Wolverines haven't had any player be a real threat in the Wooden Award odds race. But in recent weeks, with Yaxel Lendeborg and Elliot Cadeau's sporadic play, L.J. Cason has stepped up - he's had five performances of 10-plus points in his last seven games.

Dusty May has rewarded the sophomore with more minutes in February, and it's paid off. This month, he's averaging 12.1 PPG in 20.9 MPG.

Cason should be an X-factor tonight against an Illinois defense ranked outside the top 25 in adjusted efficiency.

🚀 Michigan vs. Illinois same-game parlay

After last night's Big Ten barnburner, I'm expecting a similar game tonight between two teams that are fighting for No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament. With that said, Michigan is the more complete team, especially when L.J. Cason comes to play. Seeing him and freshman phenom Keaton Wagler go toe-to-toe will be fun. 

💡 How I'm betting Michigan vs. Illinois

Follow all of our college basketball analysis and expert predictions this season.

There's nothing better than a standalone top 25 matchup in college basketball, and with how much fun Michigan State vs. Purdue was last night, every hoops bettor should be locked into this game. That's why I'm putting multiple units on this one, from Michigan ML to the Over to Cason and Wagler props (plus a half unit on an SGP).

With this being a toss-up, I'm steering clear of the spread and would bet Michigan ML with odds as short as -140. I also think taking Cason to hit double-digit points is a must-play at +150 or longer.

📊 Live Michigan vs. Illinois odds

Michigan opened as a 1.5-point betting favorite, and the line has bounced around a ton at our best sports betting sites. Michigan has shifted between -1 and -2.5 since Wednesday night, but I'd expect the Wolverines to be -1.5 by tip tonight.

📈 Michigan vs. Illinois betting trends

📺 How to watch Michigan vs. Illinois

• Date: Friday, Feb. 27
• Tipoff: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: State Farm Center (Champaign, Ill.)
• TV: FOX