The USC Trojans (9-6, 1-3 Big Ten) visit the Illinois Fighting Illini (12-3, 4-1) for a Saturday matinee in Champaign. Tip time at the State Farm Center will be at noon ET (Big Ten Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the USC vs. Illinoisodds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
USC is continuing a road trip that opened with an 82-69 setback at favored-by-6 Indiana Wednesday. Southern Cal heads to Champaign off back-to-back losses and is 0-4 in Quad I games.
Illinois — the No. 11-ranked team in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll — also played Wednesday. The Illini hosted Penn State and coasted to a 91-52 conquest. UI was favored by 7 in what marked its fifth consecutive victory. The sixth-highest scoring team in the nation has averaged 95.6 points per game during that win streak.
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USC at Illinois odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college basketball odds. Lines last updated Friday at 9:58 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: USC +625 (bet $100 to win $625) | Illinois -1000 (bet $1,000 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): USC +13.5 (-105) | Illinois -13.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 154.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
USC at Illinois picks and predictions
Prediction
Illinois 83, USC 67
Moneyline
No interest. PASS.
Against the spread
Over its last 4 games, the Illini have gone 3-1 ATS.
UI is much the better team at both ends of the floor, maybe to the point of a near-20-point margin in this matchup against USC, which has filed some disappointing results away from home. Defense and rebounding give Illinois a monster edge. And Southern Cal’s slate so far has been weak on opponents that can really defend.
The Trojans are just 5-10 ATS. BACK ILLINOIS -13.5 (-115).
Over/Under
The Under is 6-3 across UI’s 9 home games.
The noon start makes for a potentially sleepy start to this one, and the Illini have held opposing shooters to a 36.8% mark in their last 11 games.
The UNDER 154.5 (-105) is the value side here.
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