This Illinois team remains extremely depleted. Don't expect any sympathy from the Wildcats. Northwestern has dropped six of seven and desperately needs a victory. This was a team many had thought would make the NCAA Tournament. While nobody's saying that these days, the Wildcat players still believe. They want to take advantage of their banged-up guests and use this game as a springboard for the rest of their season. Illinois is just 3-8 its last 11 games, two of those wins coming against Minnesota and Rutgers, the third coming at home. The expected pace should work to NW's advantage. Illinois is 0-5 ATS its last five when playing a road game with a total in the 135 to 139.5 range, 9-20-1 ATS its last 30. With consecutive road games on deck, Northwestern knows it can ill afford to slip up here so I expect a big effort. Northwestern pulls away in the 2nd half and wins by double digits.