Michigan vs Illinois: 3 Player Props and Best Bet for Friday, February 27

The Big 10 will step into the limelight on Friday when the No. 3-ranked Michigan Wolverines (26-2, 16-1 Big Ten) head to Illinois to face the No. 10-ranked Fighting Illini (22-6, 13-4 Big Ten).

Michigan had its 11-game winning streak snapped on Saturday when it fell on the road to Duke. This week, they returned home on Tuesday and defeated a hapless Minnesota Gophers team by 10 points.

The Fighting Illini were on fire before February began, with a 20-3 record. Since then, Illinois has struggled, losing three of its past five games. All three of those losses were overtime thrillers, including an 85-82 defeat by Michigan State nearly three weeks ago.

With both teams firmly in the NCAA Tournament next month, Friday’s game can help the winner secure a higher seed. Will it be the Wolverines or the Illini making their case in this big Big 10 matchup? We’ll cover that and provide bettors with our top three player props for this game.

Michigan Wolverines’ Yaxel Lendeborg OVER 13.5 Points

Senior Yaxel Lendeborg likely has a long NBA playing career ahead of him. The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 14.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, and he’s netting 3.3 assists per night, too.

Lendeborg stood tall during his team’s 68-63 loss to Duke last weekend, scoring 21 points for Michigan. Bettors should expect a similar outcome on Friday for this Wolverine. Take him to cover his 13.5-point scoring prop bet total.

Illinois Fighting Illini’s Tomislav Ivisic OVER 15.5 Pts + Reb

Tomislav Ivisic is a perfect representation of this Illini roster. The 7-foot-1 Croatian has helped bring a European play style to spice up the Illini this season, and he’s among the team’s leaders with 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per outing.

Although Michigan has height, Ivisic could provide a dominant post presence for Illinois on Friday. Bettors should expect him to finish above his averages in both scoring and rebounding, making him a great pick to cover this combo prop wager total.

Michigan Wolverines’ Morez Johnson Jr UNDER 7.5 Rebounds

Sophomore big Morez Johnson Jr. is looking to finish this season on a high note. The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 13.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest this year, but he’s coming off a six-point, seven-board effort against Minnesota.

Bettors should expect him to have a turnaround against the Illini. While Johnson will finish with a double-figure scoring total, his rebounding will likely suffer against the tall Illinois lineup. Take him to narrowly miss his rebounding prop total on Friday.

Best Bet: Illinois (+2.5)

There’s little doubt that Michigan is one of the top contenders to win this year’s NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines have won six games against AP Top 25 teams this season, including a road win against the rival Spartans.

Still, the Wolverines are entering a hostile environment on Friday night. Illinois has only one loss at home in 2026, falling 92-90 to a NCAA Tournament-bound Wisconsin team. The Illini need a win to solidify their top four seeding in the upcoming tournament, and bettors should expect them to accomplish that task.