The Illinois Fighting Illini (5-3 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) are slated to match wits and lock horns with the Penn State Nittany Lions (3-2, 0-1) in a Wednesday evening contest at Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Illinois-Penn State college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Illinois is No. 18 in the Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Illinois at Penn State: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Illinois -210 (bet $210 to win $100) | Penn State +170 (bet $100 to win $170)
- Against the spread/ATS: Illinois -4.5 (-110) | Penn State +4.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 151.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Illinois at Penn State: Three things to know
- PSU has lost two of its last three games, but overall the Nittany Lions have been solid on both sides of the ball and against a representative schedule. Penn State is coming off its worst shooting performance of the season, as the Lions shot just 31% from the floor in a 62-58 setback at Michigan Dec. 13. (PSU’s last scheduled game was nixed due to COVID-19-related travel concerns for a non-conference opponent.)
- Turnovers have been a problem (Big Ten-worst 14.9 TO per game) for an Illini squad that has lost three of five games since opening the season with three straight wins. UI’s most recent setback was a 91-88 game at Rutgers Sunday. In that game, the Illini were a minus-5 in turnover margin.
- Illinois beat Penn State 62-56 in last season’s meeting (Feb. 18). The Illini victory broke a string of six consecutive straight up and against the spread wins for the Lions.
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Illinois at Penn State: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Illinois 77, Penn State 75
Money line (ML)
The host Nittany Lions can hang in this one by converting turnovers into transition points and by connecting from beyond the arc. The Lions are quite good in both areas, but the caveat and area of concern for PSU bettors is the team’s nine-day layoff. Penn State is a top-quartile group from distance, both in 3-point accuracy and frequency of attempts. A spate of off days can throw off rhythm for shooters and this PSU squad struggled in similar situations last season (although with shorter layoffs).
Still, the price is right, at least for a partial-unit play: BACK PENN STATE (+170).
Against the spread (ATS)
Illinois is 1-3 ATS over four road tilts. PSU is 6-2 ATS over its last eight games as a home dog getting 6 or fewer points.
Penn State is a lean due to the line moving into 4-point territory. It’s not a high-confidence lean because of the layoff, so consider a partial-unit play if taking the NITTANY LIONS +4.5 (-110).
Over/Under (O/U)
Both of these teams play at an above-average tempo but expect the Lions to stay within a couple of possessions and be a bit more deliberate down the stretch. PASS ON THE O/U ACTION FOR THIS ONE.
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