The No. 20 Illinois Fighting Illini (12-4, 4-2 Big Ten) renew their heated rivalry with the Indiana Hoosiers (13-4, 4-2) with a visit to Bloomington Tuesday. Tip-off from Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall is set for 7 p.m. (Peacock). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Illinois vs. Indianaodds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
The Illini come into hostile territory fresh off a surprising 82-72 home loss to USC Saturday. They were 12.5-point favorites in the setback, which snapped a 5-game straight-up win streak. F Ben Humrichous led Illinois with 15 points and went 3-for-8 from downtown, while G Kasparas Jakucionis (forearm) has missed 2 straight games. He’s questionable Tuesday, and there hasn’t been a peep about him Tuesday morning — the freshman from Lithuania leads Illinois in scoring (16.4 PPG) and assists (5.4 APG).
IU got blown out at Iowa Saturday 85-60, failing to cover as 5.5-point underdogs. The loss snapped a 5-game win streak and 3-game cover streak. C Oumar Ballo had 10 points and 13 boards. The Hoosiers have injury concerns of their own with F Malik Reneau (knee) and his team-best 14.1 PPG average has been out since getting hurt early in a Jan. 2 game. He is questionable as well.
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Illinois at Indiana odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:21 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Illinois -165 (bet $165 to win $100) | Indiana +135 (bet $100 to win $135)
- Against the spread (ATS): Illinois -3.5 (-110) | Indiana +3.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 157.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Illinois at Indiana picks and predictions
Prediction
Indiana 69, Illinois 67
Moneyline
This is one of the most heated rivalries in college basketball, and it really isn’t talked about much. Both teams are pretty good, and this one could put their feud back on the national map. Illinois won the last matchup, at home last January, 70-62. IU won the previous 3 meetings.
IU can beat Illinois if Jakucionis is out again. This is the Hoosiers’ “national title” game thus far. I give them the edge because of the home-court advantage.
TAKE INDIANA (+135).
Against the spread
I’m going to skip the spread here because we’re taking the value on the ML.
PASS.
Over/Under
U of I is 7-3 O/U in its last 10, and IU is 4-6. When it comes head-to-head, though, it’s always a sluggish battle with a 2-8 O/U record in the last 10.
BACK UNDER 157.5 (-105).
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