The Illini entered a Big Ten tournament quarterfinal matchup against No. 2 seed Maryland on a four-game winning streak that included total domination at Michigan, a gutsy comeback against Purdue and a 106-point binge against Iowa here Thursday. They’re also healthy and whole again — finally — and had started to seem mighty dangerous.

These are two of the hottest teams in the Big Ten, and both could use a win to increase their momentum and improve their seeding before the NCAA Tournament. It’s time to continue our College Basketball odds series with an Illinois-Maryland prediction and pick.

Rodney Rice scored 18 of his game-high 26 points in the first nine minutes Friday night and No. 2 Maryland emphatically advanced to the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament by routing 7th-seeded Illinois 88-65 in Indianapolis.