Little Rock at Illinois odds, picks and predictions

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The Little Rock Trojans (3-3) and the No. 20 Illinois Fighting Illini (4-1) meet Monday at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Little Rock vs. Illinois odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

The Trojans of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) have been a giant-killer in the first couple of weeks. While it has just 3 wins in 6 tries, 2 of those victories have come on the road against UTSA and Tulsa, both as a double-digit underdog.

UALR also lost 79-67 at Arkansas on Friday last time out, easily covering as a 21-point underdog. The Over (144.5) cashed in that game, snapping a 4-game Under run to open the season.

For the Illini, they belted Maryland-Eastern Shore last time out on Saturday, cashing as a 36-point favorite as the Under (154) cashed. Illinois rebounded nicely after a 100-87 loss against Alabama in a neutral floor game as an 8.5-point underdog. The Illini is 1-2 ATS in the past 3 games, while the Under has cashed in 3 of the past 4 outings.

– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll

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Little Rock at Illinois odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college basketball odds. Lines last updated at 7:56 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Little Rock +1450 (bet $100 to win $1,450) |
Illinois -5000 (bet $5,000 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Little Rock +21.5 (-115) | Illinois -21.5 (-105)
Over/Under (O/U): 151.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

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Little Rock at Illinois picks and predictions

Prediction

Illinois 84, Little Rock 65

Moneyline

Illinois (-5000) will cost you 50 times your potential return. In other words, you would need to risk $100 for every $2 of profit, which is obviously an insane amount of risk for not nearly enough reward.

PASS.

Against the spread

Back LITTLE ROCK +21.5 (-115) in this trip to Champaign to take on ranked Illinois -21.5 (-105).

The Trojans have shown a penchant for pulling the upset as double-digit ‘dogs, and it was able to take Arkansas to the mat. So, UALR won’t be fazed playing at State Farm Center against a ranked foe. Still, while pesky, don’t expect the Trojans to pull off the monumental upset.

Over/Under

UNDER 151.5 (-105) is the lean, but don’t get carried away.

The Over did cash in Little Rock’s most recent game against Arkansas, but the Under is 4-1 in 5 games with a line this season. Last season, in conference play, Little Rock was a tremendous Under machine, too. Remember it down the stretch, as it likes to slow it down and rely upon defense.

Anyway, for Illinois, the Under has cashed in 3 of the past 4 outings. The Illini like to throw a blanket on opponents, too, and that’s the concern with a Little Rock cover. In the past 2 games against non-power conference teams, Illinois is allowing just 47.0 PPG.

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