Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Maryland Terrapins Prediction & Game Preview - 1/21/2022

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: XFINITY Center, College Park, MD

DraftKings: Illinois -7.5

Westgate: Illinois -7.5

Caesars: NL

No. 17 Illinois: 13-4 (6-1 Big Ten)

Maryland: 9-9 (1-6 Big Ten)

I don’t think there’s much to think about in this matchup. I’ve liked the Illinois Fighting Illini all season, and entering Friday’s matchup against the Maryland Terrapins, this should be another win and cakewalk for the Illini.

Imagine for a second how close we were to a giant party in Champaign. The Illini forced double overtime against the Purdue Boilermakers, the No. 4 team in the country, and did so with last-second shots in regulation and the first overtime.

They just ran out of gas, but it was a reminder that the road through the Big Ten is going to be a ridiculous one with the Illini as the *checks notes* fifth best team in the conference? Alfonso Plummer had a game-high 24 points, Andre Curbello had 20 off the bench in 26 minutes, and Trent Frazier had 16 points in 48 minutes.

"They're the best basketball team we've played," Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. "And then I thought Sasha [Stefanovic] was elite today. We've done a pretty good job on him for the most part the last few years, and today he was the difference."

Why did Illinois lose this game? It wasn’t by technicality, but it was because Kofi Cockburn played only 22 minutes. The top big man in the conference fouled out after scoring 10 points and five rebounds. It was really the first time this season that Cockburn ran into foul trouble and couldn’t impose his will. Imagine someone averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds playing an entire game. If he stays in, the Illini likely win.

That’s why I have to look at this matchup in College Park and think not only does Illinois have the advantage of being the better team, but Illinois took one of the top teams in the country to the wire without its best player.

It’s only been three weeks since these teams faced off in Champaign with the Illini winning 76-64. Cockburn was dominant in that matchup, throwing down a season-high 23 points and grabbing 18 rebounds; seven of them were on the offensive glass and the Illini had 19 total.

Illinois is 5-2 against the spread against conference opponents this season and posts a 31-19 mark over the past three seasons. Would you believe the Illini are 38-12 straight up over the last 50 conference games? It’s quite an accomplishment no one really thinks of.

And that’s not even factoring Curbelo missed 11 games due to injury. The Illinii are getting back to full strength at the right time and might prove just yet they’re one of the deeper teams in the country. Give me Illinois in a runaway on the road. Illinois by 14

The over is 10-2-1 in Illinois' last 13 games.

Illinois is 5-1 ATS in its last six Friday games.

Maryland is 1-7 ATS in their last eight home games against a team with a winning road record.

PG: Alfonso Plummer

SG: Trent Frazier
SF: DaMonte Williams
PF: Coleman Hawkins
C: Kofi Cockburn

PG: Fatts Russell

SG: Eric Ayala
SF: Hakim Hart
PF: Donta Scott
C: Qudus Wahab