The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-2) meet the No. 15 Illinois Fighting Illini (4-2) as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge Monday. Tipoff at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill., is slated for 9 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Notre Dame vs. Illinois odds and lines and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Notre Dame returns to action after the Maui Jim Invitational held in Las Vegas last week. The Irish went 1-2 in the tournament, struggling with their shooting in losses to Saint Mary’s and Texas A&M. A Notre Dame five that last season shot nearly 37% from 3-point range has thus far connected on just 32.0% of its attempts. The Irish went a combined 12-for-44 (27.3%) on 3’s in its losses in Las Vegas.
Illinois lost two straight games in mid-November but has responded with back-to-back wins since. In the Illini’s two latest victories combined, they outshot Kansas State and Texas-Rio Grande 57.4% to 42.9%. That’s in a mix that included 22.5 3-point attempts per game.
Rankings courtesy of the Nov. 22 Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports – new poll to be released Monday.
Notre Dame at Illinois odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Odds for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 11:12 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Notre Dame +225 (bet $100 to win $225) | Illinois -290 (bet $290 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Notre Dame +6.5 (-110) | Illinois -6.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 141.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Notre Dame at Illinois odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Illinois 76, Notre Dame 70
Money line
Consider a partial-unit play on ILLINOIS (-290).
Notre Dame could be a bit road-weary after its Vegas trip. The Illini have had a couple clunkers so far, but their well-played games have exhibited numbers that would make them a solid 75-80% proposition in this game on home hardwood.
UI has had some turnover issues, and that serves to nix the value against the number. A two-to-three possession game late could easily dissolve into a 3-point difference by the final buzzer.
There isn’t a ton of profit leverage here, but what there is can best be found on the money line.
Against the spread
PASS.
Over/Under
The Over is 4-0 in Notre Dame’s last four games following a straight-up loss.
Both teams get to the stripe, and both have had their offensive numbers depressed a bit by some low-possession games.
BACK THE OVER 141.5 (-115).
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