Illinois Favored by 11.5 Points Against Wisconsin Badgers

Big Ten Conference matchup set for Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Feb. 9, 2026 at 2:39pm

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The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is set to host the Wisconsin Badgers on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois enters the game with a 20-4 overall record and 11-2 in Big Ten play, while Wisconsin is 16-7 overall and 8-4 in conference. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Illinois is an 11.5-point favorite, and the over/under is set at 156.5 points.

Why it matters

This Big Ten matchup between two highly ranked teams is an important conference game that could impact the standings and tournament seeding for both programs. Illinois is looking to bounce back after a tough overtime loss to Michigan State, while Wisconsin is aiming to upset the Illini on the road.

The details

Illinois is led by forward David Mirkovic, who had 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists in the loss to Michigan State. Wisconsin is paced by forward Nolan Winter, who recorded 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the Badgers' narrow defeat against Indiana. Overall, Illinois holds a 119-90 advantage in the all-time series between the two programs, but Wisconsin won the most recent meeting 95-74 in February 2025.

  • The game is scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 7 p.m. CT.
  • Illinois most recently played on Saturday, February 7, 2026, losing to Michigan State 85-82 in overtime.
  • Wisconsin last played on Saturday, February 7, 2026, falling to Indiana 78-77.

The players

David Mirkovic

An Illinois forward who led the team with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists in the loss to Michigan State.

Nolan Winter

A Wisconsin forward who had 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the Badgers' loss to Indiana.

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What they’re saying

“This is a big conference game for both teams, and we're looking forward to the challenge of playing at home against a tough Wisconsin squad.”

— Brad Underwood, Illinois Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a step closer to securing a higher seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament.

The takeaway

This matchup between two top Big Ten teams should be an exciting and hard-fought contest, with both programs looking to gain ground in the conference standings and improve their NCAA Tournament positioning.