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The 3rd-ranked Purdue Boilermakers (26-3, 15-3 Big Ten) are in Champaign to take on the No. 12 Illinois Fighting Illini (22-7, 13-5) Tuesday night. Tip-off from State Farm Center is set for 7 p.m. ET (Peacock). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Purdue vs. Illinois odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
It’s Senior Night for Illinois, and both the Illini and Boilermakers will be putting their respective 3-game winning streaks on the line in this Big Ten showdown. Illini F Marcus Domask poured in 31 points, knocking down a season-high four 3-pointers in the 91-83 victory over Wisconsin this past Saturday.
Purdue defeated Michigan State 80-74 at home Saturday, and C Zach Edey led the way for the Boilermakers with 32 points and 11 rebounds.
This is the 2nd matchup of the season between these schools. Purdue won 83-78 in West Lafayette in the Jan. 5 contest, although it failed to cash as a 10.5-point favorite. Edey dealt with foul trouble and his 10 points was the fewest that the senior has scored in a Big Ten game this season.
Illinois has played 9 straight games to the Over, while Purdue has played to the Over in 4 of its last 5.
Despite winning 4 of their last 5, the Boilermakers have covered the spread just once in that span, cashing as a 14.5-point home favorite in a 96-68 win vs. Rutgers Feb. 22.
– Rankings courtesy of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
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Purdue at Illinois odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:40 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Purdue +104 (bet $100 to win $104) | Illinois -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Purdue +1.5 (-104) | Illinois -1.5 (-118)
- Over/Under (O/U): 163.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Purdue at Illinois picks and predictions
Prediction
Purdue 84, Illinois 81
Moneyline
BET PURDUE (+104).
The Boilermakers have won 4 straight in this series, and Edey has scored 67 points combined in his last 2 games. Illinois is an outstanding offensive team, but it does not have the size to keep the NCAA’s reigning national player of the year in check.
Against the spread
BACK PURDUE +1.5 (-104).
G Braden Smith tied season highs with four 3-pointers made and 9 rebounds in the win over Michigan State Saturday. Smith was a perfect 4-of-4 from distance, and G Fletcher Loyer connected on 4 of 6 from 3. G Lance Jones is coming off a dismal performance in that game — 1 point on 0-of-6 from the field — but he led all Purdue guards in the last meeting with Illinois, scoring 17 points on a perfect 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. The combination of these talented guards alongside Edey in the starting lineup is getting points, and I will take them.
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Over/Under
PASS.
My lean would be to the Over, as this matchup features the top 2 scorers in the conference in Edey (24 points per game) and Illinois G Terrence Shannon Jr. (22). However, these schools commit the fewest fouls in the conference; Purdue is 1st with 14 per game and Illinois is 2nd with 15.3. A cleaner game means fewer free throws attempted, which could potentially lead to the game going Under.
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