The Illinois Fighting Illini (19-6) travel to face off against the Penn State Nittany Lions (12-14) on Wednesday, February 21st. This game will be played at Bryce Jordan Center in University Park and televised on BTN. Illinois is coming off a win in their previous game, while Penn State is looking to get back on track from a loss to the Nebraska. Tip-off is set for 6:30 ET.
Illinois Fighting Illini vs Penn State Nittany Lions
The Illinois Fighting Illini Are Coming Off A Win
Illinois is 19-6 overall and 10-4 in the Big Ten. They have won two straight games and are 5-4 on the road this season. Their average scoring margin on the road is +5.4 compared to +16.3 at home.
So far, the Fighting Illini have been favored in 20 of their 25 games, going 17-3 in those contests. They are 2-3 as the underdog.
When looking at Illinois’ ATS record this season, they are currently 13-10-2. On the road, their ATS mark is 6-2-1. As the favorite, the Fighting Illini are 10-9-1 vs. the spread this year. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, Illinois has gone 5-5 ATS.
This season, the over/under record for Illinois games is 17-8 and their matchups have averaged 153.8 points per game. Today’s line of 157.5 is higher than the average OU line in their games (147.2). Over their last three matchups, the over/under record is 3-0 and the average scoring total in those games is 165 points.
The Penn State Nittany Lions Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
Heading into this game, Penn State has lost three straight games, including their most recent game against Nebraska by a score of 68-49. At home this season, the Nittany Lions are 10-5, and they have gone 6-4 in their last 10 games at home.
Overall, Penn State has a record of 12-14, and they are 6-9 in Big Ten play. As the underdog, the Nittany Lions have gone 6-10, and they are 6-4 when they are the favorite.
As the underdog, Penn State has an ATS record of 9-7 this season and an overall ATS mark of 12-14. In their last 10 games as the underdog, the Nittany Lions are 6-4 vs. the spread. At home, their ATS record is 7-8 this year and 5-5 in their last 10 games.
This season, the over/under record for Penn State games is 15-10-1 and today’s line of 157.5 is higher than the average over/under line in their games (146.2). So far, 18 of their games have finished with less points than today’s line. Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 133 points.
Illinois Offense Breakdown
In their previous game, the Fighting Illini’s offense finished with 85 points, which is right in line with their current average of 83.1 points per contest. Offensively, the Fighting Illini have a season long field goal percentage of 46%, which is 104th in the nation. In terms of three-pointers, they are 168th in percentage and 83rd in three-pointers made.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terrence Shannon Jr. (G) | 21.4 | 4.0 | 2.4 |
| Marcus Domask (F) | 15.6 | 4.8 | 3.4 |
| Coleman Hawkins (F) | 12.4 | 6.2 | 2.8 |
Penn State Offense Breakdown
Most recently, the Penn State offense finished with just 49 points vs. Nebraska. For the game, they hit 5/23 three-point attempts and a field goal percentage of 33.3%. Offensively, the Nittany Lions hold a season-long field goal percentage of 43%, placing them 249th in the national rankings. When it comes to three-pointers, they are ranked 279th in terms of percentage and 145th in three-pointers made.
| Name | PPG | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanye Clary (G) | 16.7 | 2.9 | 2.8 |
| Adrian Baldwin Jr (G) | 14.0 | 2.2 | 5.3 |
| Qudus Wahab (F) | 9.0 | 7.6 | 0.5 |
Illinois Team Defense
At present, the Fighting Illini’s defense is nationally ranked 135th, allowing 70.7 points per game. The Illinois defense is coming off a game in which they gave up a total of 80 points and allowed Maryland to connect on 4 threes.
Penn State Team Defense
On the defensive side, Penn State is currently hovering around the NCAA’s average for points allowed, conceding an average of 73.3 points per game. On average, opposing teams are hitting 5.8 threes per game vs. Illinois. This has come on three-point shooting percentage of 30.8%.
Fighting Illini vs Nittany Lions Trends
- Across the Fighting Illini last ten road games, the team averaged 82 points per game while allowing 78. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 6-3-1, while going 5-5 straight-up.
- Across their last five home contests, Penn State has a 3-2 record vs the spread. Their overall mark in these games was 2-3, while averaging 65 points per game.
- Looking back on the team’s last ten games as the underdog, the Nittany Lions have a straight up record of 4-6. Their record vs the spread in these games was 6-4.
- Illinois has done well both straight up and vs the spread when favored to win the game, going 5-0 SU and 5-0 ATS in their last five games.
Fighting Illini vs Nittany Lions Prediction
Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +7.5, the Nittany Lions is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.
Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 157.5, and our model predicts the Fighting Illini and Nittany Lions to score a combined 143 points. We recommend betting on 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:February 21, 2024 Illinois Fighting Illini, Penn State Nittany Lions