The Ohio State Buckeyes will seek a fourth straight win when they visit the No. 18-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini.
Ohio State vs Illinois prediction
My best bet
Ohio State +6.5 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
The Ohio State Buckeyes started their fun run with a 73-70 win over No. 11-ranked Purdue, then followed it up with wins over Iowa and, most recently, Penn State.
Ohio State has moved inside KenPom’s Top 25 defensive efficiency metric at 22nd. Their defense, currently 10th in the Big Ten, allowing 70.7 points per game, has been even better during this streak, down to 66.3 points per game.
Offensively, OSU is eighth in scoring at 80 points per game, and it ranks third in the conference shooting the moneyball, coming in at a 37.4% clip. Scoring shouldn’t be a problem for Illinois, as it ranks second in the Big Ten, putting up 85.2 points per contest, but it only hit that figure once during this recent slide.
Their 80-74 OT loss at Nebraska last game was the fifth time in the last six they’ve been held under 80 points, averaging just 73.5 across the four most recent losses. Despite the recent slide, Illinois’ defense is still formidable, holding opponents to 39.7% shooting, which ranks inside the Top 30 in the nation.
OSU will challenge their ability to defend the arc, but the Fighting Illini are ranked 11th nationally in 3-point shooting defense, holding opponents to a 28.4% rate.
The deciding factor could be on the glass. Illinois is the top rebounding team in the conference, and its offensive struggles can be helped along by hitting the offensive boards, where it leads the Big Ten at nearly 14 offensive rebounds per game.
The Buckeyes average less than 30 rebounds per game, and their defensive rebounds ranking is just inside the Top 100 at 21 per contest.
This is a tough one to call, as both teams have played a really tough slate to date. OSU is 11th in KenPom’s strength of schedule rating, just a place above Illinois.
While Illinois is 9-3 at home this season and 7-4 against the spread as a home favorite, the Buckeyes have won three straight road games as road underdogs, covering each time.
Ohio State vs Illinois same-game parlay (SGP)
Ohio State +6.5
John Mobley Under 13.5 points
Kasparas Jakucionis Over 5.5 rebounds
John Mobley Jr. led the Buckeyes in scoring against Penn State, pouring in 19 points on 6-for-14 shooting. His line is set at 13.5 Sunday, but he’s been inconsistent in getting Over that number. He's gone Over that total just four times in his last 10, and he’s struggled against top competition, going Under the total five times in his last six against ranked teams.
For the Illini, Kasparas Jakucionis has been putting in work on the glass. He had 13 rebounds to go along with his 18 points in the loss to Nebraska. That was a second straight double-double after he went for 11 and 10 vs. Northwestern.
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Ohio State vs Illinois odds
Ohio State vs Illinois live odds
Ohio State vs Illinois opening odds
- Spread: Ohio State +6.5 | Illinois -6.5
- Moneyline: Ohio State +230 | Illinois -280
- Over/Under: Over 154.5 | Under 154.5
Odds courtesy of bet365.
Ohio State vs Illinois betting trend to know
Ohio State has cashed the first-half moneyline in 24 of its last 36 games. Find more college basketball betting trends for Ohio State vs. Illinois.
How to watch Ohio State vs Illinois
| Location | State Farm Center, Champaign, IL |
| Date | Sunday, 2-2-2025 |
| Tip-off | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | CBS |
Ohio State vs Illinois key injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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