Illinois is coming into this game with a 6-1 record this season and they have been playing very well in their recent games. They are coming off of a 90-77 win against a ranked Arkansas team in their last game which was in a neutral location, and they have won their last 3 straight games as well. Their only loss this season came in a neutral location against a ranked Alabama team 100-87, but they have also been beating up on a lot of weaker teams at home this season. The only quality win they have this season was their last win against Arkansas, but this is also a sandwich game for them as they have a game against a ranked Wisconsin team next and even have a game against a ranked Tennessee team right after that. This is also going to be their 1st conference game of the season and it is their 1st road game as well so this will not be an easy environment to go into, especially when they have not played in over a week either. They are going up against a Northwestern team that is 6-3 this season and they are already 0-1 in the conference. They have lost 2 of their last 3 games, but both of their losses have been within 2 points and even their other loss this season came in their 2nd game of the season, losing on the road by 5 points against a good Dayton team. They have a bit of an advantage here as well since they last played a game on Tuesday and will now be at home for their 2nd conference game when Illinois has not played in a conference game environment yet. Northwestern is coming off of a conference loss in their last game, but they lost on the road to Iowa by 1 point and will be hungry to bounce back at home after that close loss. Northwestern also beat Illinois at home last season and they have won the last 2 home meetings with Illinois as well. Northwestern is going to get up for this game against a ranked Illinois team in a conference game, and Northwestern has no other ranked teams to worry about on their schedule for the next few games either so full focus will be on beating Illinois here. Northwestern will cover the spread in this game.