If a good set of guards is vital in March, that makes Western Kentucky a threat to pull off another first-round upset. They are an athletic group with good perimeter players that can get hot from outside and carry the team.

It’s all about defense for the Illini, who hold foes to less than 30 percent from 3-point range and less than 40 percent from the field. Illinois is at their best in a grind-it-out game and their lack of firepower will catch up to them sooner or later.

Still, this will be a successful season regardless, considering Illinois was supposed to finish in the bottom third of the Big Ten. Get your NCAA basketball odds with Bodog now!

Penn State and Illinois are sixth and seventh, respectively, in scoring in the Big Ten, which is well on its way to its seventh consecutive season of being the lowest-scoring major conference in the nation.

A season sweep of the Illini could do wonders for the Nittany Lions’ chances to make the NCAA tourney, and a win combined with another victory Saturday at Iowa could be especially big. If the Nittany Lions win out, they can earn the third seed in next week’s Big Ten tournament.

The Nittany Lions are 10-0 when Talor Battle scores 21 or more and 0-5 when he has 10 or fewer. Seems clear who the Illini need to stop.

Michigan (2-2 SU, 1-3 ATS) is also coming off its first payday of the season, but it comes in happier circumstances: a 27-25 win over Wisconsin (-4.5). Now the Wolverines are laying three points in Saturday’s matchup with Illinois at the Big House.

The final score of the Wolverines-Badgers game disguises the fact that Michigan went into the locker room down 19-0. It’ll take more than two good quarters to prove that Michigan is picking up coach Rich Rodriguez’ spread offense, not to mention capable of hanging onto the football. West Virginia was 3-8 (4-7 ATS) during Rodriguez’ 2001 debut in Morgantown. Get all your NCAA College Football Odds in the Bodog Sportsbook today!

Just about the only good news for the Illini going into Saturday night’s matchup at Beaver Stadium is that they’re coming off a bye week, while the Nittany Lions were crushing Temple. From a handicapping standpoint, Illinois supporters can also hope the running game employed by both teams will chew up enough clock to cash the Illini in as 15-point puppies.

That’s not my pick. Penn State is playing far better than No. 15 in the nation, while Illinois is only ranked because the team somehow made it to the Rose Bowl last season. PSU all the way. Get all your NCAA College Football Odds in the Bodog Sportsbook today!

According to Champaign County State Attorney Julia Reitz, a warrant has been issues for Fighting Illini basketball player Jamar Smith in relation to his probation for drinking alcohol.

Last season, the 21-year-old plead guilty to felony DUI after driving his car into a tree and injuring former teammate Brian Carlwell in February of 2007. Smith then sat out last season after the guilty plea.

Already looking ahead to the NCAA collegiate basketball season? Then check out the Bodog Sportsbook today for all your basketball futures betting and other engaging prop bets from the hardwood!