The No. 13 Illinois Fighting Illini (17-5, 10-2 Big Ten) and No. 3 Purdue Boilermakers (20-3, 9-3) battle in a Tuesday top-15 tilt in West Lafayette, Ind. The contest at Mackey Arena is slated to tip off at 9 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Illinois vs. Purdue odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Illinois routed Indiana, 74-57, Saturday and has won four consecutive games. The Illini have been a tremendous defensive team all season, and U of I has certainly put that defense on display in its winning streak. Over the four victories, Illinois has held opponents to a 36.2% mark from the field.
The Boilermakers topped Michigan 82-76 Saturday and have relied heavily on their top-notch offense in compiling a five-game win streak. Over the five games, the league’s highest-scoring team (84.5 points per game) has shot 53.5% from the floor and 45.5% from 3-point range.
Illinois and Purdue met, Jan. 17, in Champaign, Ill.: the Boilermakers defeated the Illini 96-88 in double-overtime.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Illinois at Purdue odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:40 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Illinois +210 (bet $100 to win $210) | Purdue -270 (bet $270 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Illinois +5.5 (-105) | Purdue -5.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 147.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Illinois at Purdue odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Purdue 78, Illinois 75
Money line
These two teams aren’t far enough apart to bet -270 on Purdue. PASS.
Against the spread
The Boilermakers are 0-6-1 ATS in their last seven home games against teams playing .600 ball. The Illini have won five in a row ATS as a road dog.
Illinois’ defense keeps this one very close. The rebounding tussle will have much to say about how this one goes. Illinois C Kofi Cockburn — the Big Ten’s leading rebounder (11.4 per game) will have much to say about how that tussle goes.
TAKE ILLINOIS +5.5 (-105).
Over/Under
The Over has hit in four straight Purdue games. And it’s 6-3 in the last nine UI-PU meetings.
Look for a close game laced with a lot of triples and a total that spirals past 150. BACK THE OVER 147.5 (-110).
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