Illinois vs Alabama Wednesday Prediction | College Basketball Picks Today, Best Bets

The ranked matchups are starting to flow in college basketball as the non-conference schedule rolls on. The latest edition of top teams facing off is set for Wednesday night as Alabama and Illinois face off in Birmingham.

Let’s examine the Jayhawks—Spartans matchup in more detail, including tip times, television coverage, betting odds, a brief preview of what to watch for, and a best bet.

More CBB: UConn Season Preview | St. John’s Season Preview | Marquette Season Preview

How to Watch No. 25 Illinois vs No. 8 Alabama

• TV: ESPN | Streaming: ESPN App
• Time: 6:30 p.m. ET  |  Location: State Farm Arena – Atlanta, GA

No. 25 Illinois vs No. 8 Alabama FanDuel Odds

• Spread: Illinois +8.5 (-108) | Alabama -8.5 (-112)
• Moneyline: Illinois (+290) | Alabama (-375)
• Total: OVER 166.5 (-115) | UNDER 166.5 (-105)

This should be an electric matchup between two fast-paced teams on Wednesday night. Both rank within the top 50 in KenPom’s tempo ranking, and both have eclipsed 100 points in a game this season. 

Illinois underwent one of the most significant roster turnovers in the entire country this offseason. Head coach Brad Underwood returned just 2.8 percent of his production from a season ago and is still learning what he has and his most efficient rotation. Five-star freshman Will Riley has looked well ahead of schedule, leading the team in scoring, featuring a 31-point outburst in his collegiate debut against Eastern Illinois two weeks ago. Sophomore Tomislav Ivisic and Evansville transfer Ben Humrichous have also been great additions, providing some size and efficient scoring for the Fighting Illini. There are loads of talented players on this roster, and it’s clear Underwood is still learning to utilize his players efficiently.

The Crimson Tide are on the opposite side of the spectrum. They returned nearly half of their production from a season ago, including stars like Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, and Latrell Wrightsell. They are fresh off a valiant effort in perhaps one of the most hostile road environments at Mackey Arena against Purdue, and they have dropped just three home games since the start of the 2022-23 season. According to KenPom, they have picked up where they left off last season as a top-three offense nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency.

While there is a lot to like about the pieces Illinois has picked up in the offseason, the team is frankly behind in their gelling process compared to an Alabama team with plenty of core pieces from their Final Four run still on the roster. It’s a tall task to ask them to compete with this team in Birmingham, so we’ll lay it with the Crimson Tide here.

The Pick: Alabama -8.5 (-112)

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