The Illinois Fighting Illini (15-5) travel to face off against the Ohio State Buckeyes (13-7) on Tuesday, January 30th. This game will be played at Value City Arena in Columbus and televised on PEAC. Illinois is coming off a win in their previous game, while Ohio State is looking to get back on track from a loss to the Northwestern. Tip-off is set for 7:00 ET.
Illinois Fighting Illini vs Ohio State Buckeyes
The Illinois Fighting Illini Are Coming Off A Win
Illinois is favored by 3.5 points in this game. They are 13-3 when favored this season. Overall, the Fighting Illini are 15-5, including a 6-3 mark in Big Ten play. On the road, they have gone 3-3, and their average scoring margin is +6.7.
The Fighting Illini come into this game having won two straight at home. So far, they are 12-2 at home this season. In their last outing, they beat Indiana 70-62. Over their last 10 road games, they have gone just 3-7.
When looking at Illinois’ ATS record this season, they are currently 10-8-2. On the road, they have been even better with a mark of 4-1-1. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, the Illini have gone 5-4-1 vs. the spread.
So far this season, the over/under record for Illinois games is 12-8. Today’s over/under line of 149.5 is lower than the average over/under line in their games this year (147). Currently, their games have an average of 150.8 points. Over their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1 and the average scoring total is 155 points.
The Ohio State Buckeyes Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
Ohio State is 10-2 at home this season, and they have gone 9-1 in their last 10 games at home. They are coming off a 25-point loss to Northwestern, and they are 13-7 overall this season. So far, they have gone 3-6 in Big Ten play.
As the underdog, the Buckeyes are 1-3 this season, and they are 1-3 in their last four games on the road. For the year, Ohio State has gone 3-5 on the road, and their average scoring margin on the road is -2.0 points per game.
For the season, Ohio State has an ATS record of just 6-14, including a mark of 4-8 at home. Over their last 10 games as the underdog, the Buckeyes are 5-5 vs. the spread.
So far this season, the over/under record for Ohio State games is 11-9. The average scoring total in their games this year is 143.4 points, which is just slightly lower than the average over/under line of 143.5 points. Over their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1 with an average scoring total of 145 points.
Illinois Offense Breakdown
In their latest game, Illinois offense put up 70 points against Indiana. They recorded an overall field goal percentage of 37.1% and made 7 threes. The team’s scoring leader is Marcus Domask, who holds an average of 15.2 as they head into today’s matchup. Additionally, Terrence Shannon Jr. is averaging 19.9 points per game this season.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Domask (F) | 15.2 | 4.8 | 3.5 |
| Terrence Shannon Jr. (G) | 19.9 | 4.3 | 2.5 |
| Quincy Guerrier (F) | 11.3 | 7.8 | 0.2 |
Ohio State Offense Breakdown
Coming off their recent game, the Ohio State offense tallied 58 points in a matchup against Northwestern. Their field goal percentage for the game was 34.1%, and they made 5 threes. Bruce Thornton led the scoring for the Buckeyes, contributing 18 points. Additionally, Roddy Gayle Jr. chipped in with 15 points.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce Thornton (G) | 16.1 | 3.1 | 4.3 |
| Roddy Gayle Jr. (G) | 13.8 | 4.9 | 3.2 |
| Jamison Battle (F) | 13.8 | 5.3 | 1.1 |
Illinois Team Defense
Coming into today’s game, the Illinois defense is giving up an average of 68.6 points per contest. Against Indiana in their most recent game, the Illinois defense gave up a total of 62 points while allowing Indiana to hit 37% of their shots.
Ohio State Team Defense
At this time, the Buckeyes’ defense is positioned 90th in the country, permitting 68.2 points per game. Ohio State’s three-point defense is currently 135th in the country at 7.4 made threes per game. In terms of overall field goal percentage, opponets have hit 42.5% of their shots vs. Ohio State.
Fighting Illini vs Buckeyes Trends
- Illinois has a 2-3 record in their last five road games. In this stretch, they averaged 86 points per game while allowing 82. The team also performed well vs the spread at 3-1-1.
- In their last five games at home, the Buckeyes have a straight up record of 1-4 while going 0-5 vs. the spread. The team averaged 67 points per game in this stretch.
- In their last five games as the betting underdog, the Buckeyes have a straight up record of 1-4 and an ATS mark of 1-4.
- Through their previous five contests as the betting favorite, the Fighting Illini have a strong record of 3-2. Their record vs the spread in these matchups is 2-3.
Fighting Illini vs Buckeyes Prediction
As the underdogs with a spread of +3.5, we recommend going with the Buckeyes on the point spread. We not only see them covering the spread but also have a strong likelihood of winning this one outright, especially if you’re seeking a higher payout on the moneyline.
As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 149.5, and our model projects the Fighting Illini and Buckeyes to reach a combined total of 143 points. Our bet is on taking the under.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:January 30, 2024 Illinois Fighting Illini, Ohio State Buckeyes