The Monmouth Hawks (0-2) meet the No. 23 Illinois Fighting Illini (2-0) on Monday at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Monmouth vs. Illinois odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
The Hawks have had a rough go of it to start, falling 79-52 at Seton Hall in the opener on Nov. 9, and then being blasted 89-42 at Virginia on Friday night in Charlottesville. Monmouth has failed to cover in each outing.
The Illini topped Eastern Illinois by 30 points in the opener, just missing a cover by 1 point (87-57). It was much better against Missouri-Kansas City last time out, winning 86-48 to cover a 25.5-point number as the Under cashed.
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Monmouth at Illinois odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:29 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Off the board
- Against the spread (ATS): Monmouth +26.5 (-108) | Illinois -26.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 141.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Monmouth at Illinois picks and predictions
Prediction
Illinois 85, Monmouth 53
Moneyline
There was no money line at the time of publishing, but it wouldn’t be worth pursuing.
Against the spread
ILLINOIS -26.5 (-112) is worth a look here. The Illini have buried each of their first 2 opponents by 30 or more points. Monmouth +26.5 (-108) shouldn’t offer very much resistance, as the Hawks have dropped each of their first 2 games by an average of 37.0 PPG.
Over/Under
UNDER 141.5 (-110) is the lean here, but play it lightly.
The concern isn’t with the Illini offense, but with the Hawks. Monmouth has averaged just 47.0 PPG during the early going, while hitting at just 16.1% from downtown, and just 33.7% from the field. Defensively, Monmouth has struggled, so Illinois will score plenty. Don’t expect a defensive slog, but don’t expect the Hawks to get out of the 50s here, either.
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