The Illinois Fighting Illini take on the Maryland Terrapins in the Big Ten Tournament. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
Maryland is favored by 1 point on the spread with a moneyline of -118. The total is set at 159.5 points.
Here are my Illinois vs. Maryland predictions and college basketball picks for March 14, 2025.
Illinois vs Maryland Prediction
My Pick: Illinois +1.5
My Illinois vs Maryland best bet is on the Fighting Illini spread, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Illinois vs Maryland Odds
| Illinois Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -122 | 159.5 -105o / -115u | -110 |
| Maryland Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +100 | 159.5 -105o / -115u | -110 |
- Illinois vs Maryland spread: Maryland -1.5
- Illinois vs Maryland over/under: 159.5 points
- Illinois vs Maryland moneyline: Maryland -110, Illinois -110
- Illinois vs Maryland best bet: Illinois +1.5
Illinois vs Maryland College Basketball Betting Preview
Don't look now, but the Illinois Fighting Illini are heating up at the right time. The Illini are getting healthier by the day, and their offense is starting to cook.
Illinois ranks dead last in the Big Ten in 3-point percentage, but it's been playing much better basketball over the previous few weeks. It's a great time to hop on the Illini wagon, as they will take on Maryland tonight in Indianapolis.
The Terrapins have had a terrific season, but I have questions about tonight's game. Their interior scoring has been inconsistent throughout the season, and if they're not hitting their 3s tonight against a red-hot Illini team, trouble is brewing.
I'd also argue that the Illini have more positive fortune coming their way from deep, which should counteract a strong Maryland perimeter defense. I expect another strong performance from the Illini offense, coming off an explosive effort against Iowa.
The Terps will have difficulty keeping pace here, especially since the Illini do an excellent job remaining disciplined on defense. Maryland takes care of business at the charity stripe but may have limited opportunities there.
I'm riding with Brad Underwood's red-hot squad, as I expect their 3-point shooting to continue.
