Illinois vs Iowa

Illinois brings a four-game winning streak and one of the nation’s most efficient offenses into Carver-Hawkeye, with freshman playmaker Keaton Wagler and veteran guard Kylan Boswell driving an attack that’s averaging nearly 87 points while winning Big Ten games by double digits. Iowa has been outstanding at home and leans heavily on Bennett Stirtz’s shot-making, but the Hawkeyes are coming off a tight loss to Minnesota, and starting forward Tavion Banks is listed as questionable while rotation guard Peyton McCollum is out, slightly thinning their frontcourt and wing depth. Illinois has already weathered its own injury issues with Ty Rodgers sidelined, yet the Illini’s current form, rim protection from the Ivišić brothers, and deeper scoring options give them just enough of an edge to justify taking the modest road price at -110 instead of laying the steeper number on Iowa. Grade: B. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 11/01/2026 09:37. Sources: ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401825435/illinois-iowa))

Keaton Wagler and Bennett Stirtz headline two high-powered, guard-driven attacks that both play with enough tempo and shot-making to push this total past 143.5, especially with Illinois averaging 86.7 points per game and Iowa sitting near 80 while each has recently blown past 80 in multiple outings. Even with Iowa’s strong defensive metrics at home, the Hawkeyes have allowed opponents to reach the low 60s regularly, and Illinois’ spacing plus the Ivišić brothers’ inside-out scoring should stress an Iowa defense that’s more disruptive on the perimeter than at the rim. Recent results show Illinois winning 90–55, 91–48, and 81–55, while Iowa has posted 94–39, 90–62, and 74–61, suggesting that if this stays competitive rather than a blowout, we’re more likely to see both teams in the mid‑70s or better than a grind-it-out rock fight. With neither side dealing with injuries that directly sap its primary scorers, this number looks a touch short for two top-20 caliber offenses in a high-profile, ranked matchup. Grade: B+. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 11/01/2026 09:37. Sources: ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401825435/illinois-iowa))

Iowa’s 9–0 home record and Stirtz’s ability to carry the offense for long stretches make Carver-Hawkeye a brutal place to visit, but Illinois catching +1.5 with its current four-game surge, deeper frontcourt, and slightly better overall efficiency profile is still appealing—especially with Iowa potentially missing starter Tavion Banks while Illinois has already adjusted to life without Ty Rodgers. The Hawkeyes’ offense is slightly more top-heavy around Stirtz and versatile forward Alvaro Folgueiras, while the Illini can rotate multiple creators (Wagler, Boswell) and bigs (Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivišić, David Mirkovic) who have been controlling the glass and driving recent blowouts. Given how closely matched these ranked teams are and the fact that this is their first meeting of the season, backing the small underdog that owns the better recent form and a modest rebounding/size edge feels smarter than laying points into Iowa’s home-court tax, though the extra juice on +1.5 dings the value slightly. Grade: B-. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 11/01/2026 09:37. Sources: ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401825435/illinois-iowa))