Betting on University of Illinois Fighting Illini Basketball

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University of Illinois plays basketball in the Big 10. Fighting Illini basketball wagering means both men's and women's Division I teams, with home games played at the State Farm Center. That stadium seats 16,618 for basketball, where the raucous student section is known as the Orange Krush. The University of Illinois is located at Urbana-Champaign and claims the 14th most wins in NCAA Division I men's college basketball history entering 2014. Head coach John Groce guides the Fighting Illini, who also claim the 11th best winning percentage all-time. Since the arrival of March Madness the University of Illinois has made the NCAA tournament 30 times. That includes 12 Sweet 16s, 9 Elite Eights, 5 Final Fours and a Championship Game runner-up appearance in 2005. The school also claims a national title pre-NCAA tournament in 1915. This page is dedicated to providing valuable information about betting on the Fighting Illini basketball team. We have also created a similar guide for betting on Southern Illinois Salukis basketball and betting on Northwestern Wildcats basketball. College basketball is every bit as popular as NBA basketball when it comes to Illinois basketball betting.

Top Illinois College Basketball Betting Site
Bovada Sportsbook offers Illinois college basketball betting lines
Bovada Sportsbook
5Stars

Bovada Sportsbook is a US friendly online sports betting site that provides comprehensive coverage of Illinois college basketball betting, including offering betting lines on the Fighting Illini basketball team, as well as other college basketball teams in Illinois and across the country. New customers will receive a 50% match bonus up to $250, as well as special promotions and extra bonuses throughout the season and the March Madness tournament. You can place your basketball betting on the go through their mobile sports betting app that does not require a download and also includes live betting and other advanced wagering options.

Visit Bovada Sportsbook

best Sportsbooks offering Fighting Illini Basketball Betting Lines

Sportsbook Name Bonus rating Visit
Bovada Sportsbook $250 5Stars Visit Site
BetOnline Sportsbook $1000 5Stars Visit Site
Bookmaker Sportsbook $2500 5Stars Visit Site
SportsBetting.ag $1000 5Stars Visit Site

2014 University of Illinois Fighting Illini Basketball

The 2014 - 2015 NCAA basketball season is just getting started. And early on, the University of Illinois men's team is 2 - 0. The Fighting Illini has yet to play a Big 10 contest and is scoring the 5th most points per game in the early season at 97.0. Senior shooting guard Rayvonte Rice is averaging 7.0 rebounds, 19.0 points and 2.6 assists per game to lead the Illini, and is supported by sophomore guard Malcolm Hill (12.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists). Playing in a competitive Big Ten that has 5 of its 14 teams ranked in the Top 25 to begin the season means that Illinois will have to play inspired basketball this year. The team is 40 - 31 overall in NCAA March Madness play, and a postseason appearance is not out of the question. However, the Illini will have to improve upon their rebounding and field-goal percentage if they are going to consistently win in the Big Ten.

University of Illinois Men's Basketball Record Against the Big Ten

The Fighting Illini owns a winning record against 9 of the 11 Big Ten basketball teams it has played. Entering the 2014 - 15 season the school owns a tie 83 - 83 record with Indiana, and Purdue is the only Big Ten team Illinois has played which has a better head-to-head record (84 - 91). The University of Illinois owns a slight lead against Big Ten opponent Michigan State (55 - 54) and Iowa (78 - 67). The school has dominated Northwestern on the basketball court (127 - 35), as it has Wisconsin (109 - 75) and Minnesota (114 - 62).

Interesting Fighting Illini Statistics and Trivia

Bet you didn't know ...

• Deon Thomas is the leading Illini scorer of all time with 2,129 points.

• Bruce Douglas has tallied more career assists for the Illini than any other player with 765. And Demetri McCamey owns the single game Illinois assist mark with 16.

• The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame claims 4 Illini players - H. V. Porter (inducted in 1960), G/F Andrew Michael "Handy Andy" Phillip (1961), Abraham M. "Abe" Saperstein (1971) and Jerry Colangelo (2004).

• University of Illinois player Abe Saperstein went on to found the globally popular Harlem Globetrotters. He was also the Commissioner of the American Basketball League, which he founded in 1961. Intending to give the ABL a little something different than the NBA, he introduced the 3 point shot which is still used today in college and the pros.

• The University of Illinois claims 9 consensus All-Americans, 4 National Player of the Year Awards, 1 Bob Cousy Award, and 2 NCAA Tournament Regional Most Outstanding Player honors.

• The Lou Henson coaching era (1975 - 1996) was responsible for 423 wins and 224 losses (a .654 winning percentage). Under Henson the University of Illinois also posted a record of 214 wins and 164 losses (.567) in Big Ten Conference games.

• In the 2005 NCAA March Madness tournament the University of Illinois men's basketball team advanced to the Championship Game. They were the top ranked seed in their bracket, and lost in a heartbreaker to #1 overall North Carolina 70 - 75.

Resources for Illinois Fighting Illini Basketball Fans

Illinois Fighting Illini Basketball Team official website

NCAAB Official Website