Maryland Terrapins vs. Illinois Fighting Illini 1/23/25 NCAA Men’s Basketball Forecast and Predictions

Maryland Terrapins vs. Illinois Fighting Illini 1/23/25 – In view of the college basketball season fever, an exciting clash features on the calendar as the Maryland Terrapins (14-5) take on the Illinois Fighting Illini (13-5) on a cold Thursday evening. Both teams have fantastic records and will be seeking to improve their standing in the highly competitive Big Ten conference. The match will take place on Thursday at the energetic State Farm Center and will be broadcasted live on FS1.

Team	SP/RL	TOTAL	ML
Terrapins	+7 (-110)	Over 157.5 (-110)	+260
Fighting Illini	-7 (-110)	Under 157.5 (-110)	-333

Champaign 🔜 pic.twitter.com/PZNJ7sMtGT

— Maryland Men’s Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) January 22, 2025

The Terrapins enter the match as +7 underdogs which should attract bettors who think there will be an upset or at the very least, a cover. Given how they performed in their latest match against Illinois and how they have been performing on average, Maryland’s chances might be good in this instance too. Everyone believes Illinois will take the victory, so it is not surprising that there is a -333 moneyline given their recent form, especially while playing at home.

Derik Queen (Center) vs. Kasparas Jakucionis (Guard)

Derik Queen, the exceptional center of Maryland, has been an imposing presence this season, recording averages of 15.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. His impressive goal percentage of 54.8 percent means he is crucial to Maryland’s scoring plans. On the other hand, the fact that he shoots poorly from three-point range may limit his effectiveness as an offensive weapon that can stretch the defense.

On the other hand, Illinois’s Kasparas Jakucionis has been showing all-around guard skills, scoring an average of 15.9 points per game while also dishing 5.3 assists. He is a good shooter, making 40.5 percent of his attempts from the three-point range and 87.2 percent from the free-throw line which makes him a threat to score from the perimeter. Because of how he orchestrates the tempo of the game and scores, Jakucionis is one of the best players in the Fighting Illini.

Statistical Showdown: Terrapins’ Tactical Analysis

Maryland places great emphasis on accurate field goal shooting and a productive rebounding game, resulting in an average of 83.2 points against 48.7 percent season shooting accuracy. Their last two matches exhibited some fluctuations, narrowly beating Nebraska (69-66) and losing to Northwestern (74-76). These patterns may indicate cracks in their armor, which they will need to fix when going up against an efficient Illinois side

Illinois’ Home Court Advantage

Illinois has proven to be a tough team at the State Farm Center, with a home record of 14-3 in their last 17 fixtures. They are currently 2-1 in their last three games, averaging 86.8 points per game which is enabled through their aggressive style supported by a very deep roster. This takes into account an unfortunate loss against Michigan State (78-80) where they had the game in hand but also highlighted a brilliant performance against Indiana (94-69).

Trends

Maryland Terrapins Betting Trends

Maryland are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Maryland’s last 5 games.
Maryland are 14-5 SU in their last 19 games.
Maryland are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games against Illinois.
Maryland are 10-3 SU in their last 13 games against Illinois.

Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

Illinois are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games.
Illinois are 14-3 SU in their last 17 games at home.
Illinois are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against Maryland.
The total has gone OVER in 14 of Illinois’ last 20 games against an opponent in the Big Ten conference.
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Illinois’ last 15 games played in January.