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The Arkansas Razorbacks (5-1) meet the Illinois Fighting Illini (5-1) in a Thursday neutral-site contest in Kansas City. Tip time at the T-Mobile Center will be at 4 p.m. ET (CBS). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Arkansas vs. Illinois odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
Arkansas, the No. 21 team in the nation in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll, lost 72-67 to the Baylor Bears (currently No. 18) in the first week of the season, but has won 4 straight since. Only 1 of those 4 (Nov. 13 vs. the Troy Trojans) came against a BartTorvik top-150.
Illinois suffered its lone setback 100-87 in a Nov. 20 game against the current No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide. UI derives much of its value on defense (holding foes to a 34.4% mark from the field), but the Fighting Illini have banged out 87 points or more in 5 of their 6 games.
The Razorbacks and Illini last met in a first round NCAA Tournament game 2 seasons back (March 16, 2023). Arkansas (-2.5) downed Illinois 73-63.
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Arkansas vs. Illinois odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college basketball odds. Lines last updated Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Arkansas +118 (bet $100 to win $118) | Illinois -142 (bet $142 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Arkansas +2.5 (-110) | Illinois -2.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 154.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Arkansas vs. Illinois picks and predictions
Prediction
Illinois 78, Arkansas 73
Moneyline
No interest. PASS.
Against the spread
The Illini are 4-2 ATS. They have been exceptional on defense, forcing opposing teams into bad looks and controlling the rebounding game.
The Razorbacks have some shooting numbers not fully supported by the types of looks they are getting. Arkansas is due some shooting regression.
Look for UI to take this one by a couple scores. BACK THE FIGHTING ILLINI -2.5 (-110).
Over/Under
The Under is 4-2 across UA’s 6 games and is 4-1 in UI’s last 5.
Both teams get after it with top-50 tempo numbers but both also excel in contesting shots and doing so without creating a lot of opponent looks at the line. On neutral hardwood, the UNDER 154.5 (-105) is the value side.
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