The Purdue Boilermakers (7-4 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) visit the Illinois Fighting Illini (7-3, 3-1) Saturday for a 6 p.m. ET tip. Below, we analyze the Purdue-Illinois college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
The Fighting Illini are No. 16 in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll.
Purdue at Illinois: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:10 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Purdue +333 (bet $100 to win $333) | Illinois -450 (bet $450 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Purdue +8.5 (-110) | Illinois -8.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 151.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Purdue at Illinois: Three things to know
- Purdue is coming off an 81-76 loss at No. 13 Rutgers as a 1.5-point underdog Tuesday. Junior F Trevion Williams led the Boilermakers with 21 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in the loss. Despite outscoring the Scarlet Knights 42-28 in the paint and winning the rebound battle 33-31, the Boilers suffered a second conference road loss in as many tries. Williams leads Purdue with 14.1 points per game and 9.7 rebounds per game, while junior G’s Eric Hunter Jr. and Sasha Stefanovic average 12.3 PPG and 11.5 PPG, respectively.
- Illinois, which also lost at Rutgers this season (Dec. 20), has reeled off back-to-back victories, most recently dumping visiting Indiana 69-60 Dec. 26. Junior G Ayo Dosunmu, who scored a game-high 30 points vs. the Hoosiers, leads the Illini with 24.1 PPG and averages 7.2 rebounds and a team-best 5.2 assists per game. Sophomore C Kofi Cockburn chips in 17.2 PPG and a team-high 9.9 RPG. The Illini have won their last eight at home dating back to last season.
- The Illini swept the Boilermakers last season to snap a 4-game skid in the series. Illinois won 79-72 as a 6-point dog at Purdue Jan. 21. That was just 16 days after the Illini shut down the Boilers 63-37 as 1.5-point home favorites.
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Purdue at Illinois: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Illinois 72, Purdue 68
Money line (ML)
PASS. The Illini’s -450 price is too expensive and just not smart sports wagering.
Against the spread (ATS)
PURDUE +8.5 (-110) is the STRONGEST PLAY – 1½ times your usual wager. The Boilers haven’t forgotten their two losses to the Illini last January, including the dismal 37-point showing in Champaign. Head coach Matt Painter will have his squad ready to give the Illini all they can ask for.
ATS records: Purdue 3-7-1 | Illinois 6-4
Over/Under (O/U)
The UNDER 149.5 is the way to go. Following the Rutgers loss, Painter has emphasized Purdue’s defense has to improve. Look for the Boilers to step it up a notch in attempting to slow down the Illini’s 87.3 PPG average. This should look more like Illinois’ 69-60 win vs. Indiana, but a bit closer.
O/U records: Purdue 7-4 | Illinois 8-2
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| Johnny’s 2020-21 CBK record / Strongest plays | 15-17 / 5-10 |
| 2019-20 CBK record / Strongest plays | 5-3 / 5-0 |
| 2021 overall record (all sports) / Strongest plays | 6-1 / 3-0 |
| 2020 overall record (all sports)/Strongest plays | 178-147-4 / 87-61-1 |
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