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College Basketball

Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Indiana Hoosiers Predictions, Picks, Odds

Daniel Dobish
Daniel Dobish Sports Betting Expert
6 minute read

The Illinois Fighting Illini (16-5, 9-2 Big Ten) travel to meet the Indiana Hoosiers (16-5, 7-4) in a Big Ten conference tilt on Saturday at the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on ESPN.

SCORE PREDICTION

Illinois 72, Indiana 68

BEST BETS

Illinois +100 ML at WynnBet

Illinois +1.5 (-110) at Westgate Superbook

Over 135.5 (-110) at WynnBet

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI VS. INDIANA HOOSIERS PREDICTIONS

The Fighting Illini is coming off an emphatic 80-67 victory against Wisconsin on Wednesday, covering a 6.5-point favorite as the OVER connected. The 80 points were the most in a victory since Jan. 11 at Nebraska. Illinois hit 52% (32-of-62) from the field, and 32% (7-of-22) from behind the 3-point line, while struggling at 50% (9-of-18) from the free-throw line. Kofi Cockburn was literally a one-man wrecking crew, rolling up a game-high 37 points with a sparkling 16-of-19 shooting night. In fact, the rest of his team hit just 37% (16-of-43). Cockburn also racked up 12 rebounds with a blocked shot, adding another notable performance for his Player of the Year resume.

The Hoosiers have won two in a row at Maryland and home to Penn State, while winning four of the past five outings. Indiana has fallen into a weird routine, losing a game, then winning two, losing a game, then winning two, losing a game, then winning two. That's been the pattern across the past nine outings. The last time IU had a three-game win streak was Dec. 12-22 against Merrimack, Notre Dame and Northern Kentucky, and that was the last time the Hoosiers had three consecutive covers, too.

Indiana hit 43% (26-of-60) from the field, while hitting just 30% (6-of-20) from the field. The Hoosiers did a decent job with just 10 turnovers, while outrebounding the Terrapins by a 39-to-36 margin. Race Thompson led the way with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Trayce Jackson-Davis posted 17 points with nine boards and a blocked shot. When TJD and Thompson are on, they're the straw that stirs the drink for the Hoosiers.

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI VS. INDIANA HOOSIERS BETTING ODDS

  • Illinois +100
  • Indiana -120
  • Illinois +1.5 (-110)
  • Indiana PK (-110)
  • Over 135.5 (-110)
  • Under 135.5 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI VS. INDIANA HOOSIERS BETTING RESOURCES

  • Matchup: Big 10
  • Date: Saturday, February 5, 2022
  • Venue: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
  • Location: Bloomington, Indiana
  • TV-Time: ESPN - 12:00 p.m. ET

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 16-5
  • ATS: 10-11
  • O/U: 13-7-1

The Fighting Illini has picked up three straight wins since a two-game losing streak against Purdue and at Maryland. The offense was still struggling with a 56-point effort in a win over Michigan State, and 59-point effort in a win at Northwestern. However, Cockburn put the Illini on his back and helped the Illini to its most impressive performance in some time.

The cover against the Badgers snapped an 0-4 ATS skid. As a favorite of six or more points, Illinois is 7-1 ATS in the past eight games. Illinois has also covered in eight of the past 11 games against teams with a winning straight-up record.

As far as totals, the OVER is 12-4-1 in the past 17 games overall, while going 5-2 in the past seven games on the road, while going 5-2 in the past seven road outing against teams with a winning home record.

In this series, the road team is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings. Illinois has won three straight in this series since a 3-0 SU/2-1 ATS run by Indiana. The OVER cashed in the last meeting Feb. 2, 2021, and the OVER is 5-3-2 in the past 10 installments in this series.

INDIANA HOOSIERS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 16-5
  • ATS: 13-8
  • O/U: 9-12

For Indiana, they'll have to do without G Rob Phinisee (ankle). He was injured in the Penn State game on Jan. 26. The team didn't really miss him in the win at Maryland, but this is an all-hands on deck situation.

The Hoosiers have won four of the past five games, while going 3-1 ATS in the past four outings. Indiana has cashed in 10 of the past 11 games at home, too, while going 7-3 ATS in the past 10 against teams with a winning overall record.

For totals, the OVER has connected in five of the past seven games overall, while hitting in five of the past seven at home, too. The OVER is 3-1-1 in the past five games against teams with a winning overall record, too.

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Illinois is 8-3 ATS in the past 11 vs. winning teams. (AP)

INSIDE THE STATS - ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI

  • Record: 16-5
  • VI Ranking: 23
  • PS/G: 77.3 (51st)
  • PA/G: 65.9 (90th)
  • ORtg: 111.6 (27th)
  • DRtg: 95.1 (79th)

INSIDE THE STATS - INDIANA HOOSIERS

  • Record: 16-5
  • VI Ranking: 30
  • PS/G: 73.7 (122nd)
  • PA/G: 63.0 (35th)
  • ORtg: 105.7 (122nd)
  • DRtg: 90.3 (26th)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • ILL: Kofi Cockburn - C (22.1 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 61.1 FG%)
  • ILL: Alfonso Plummer - G (15.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1.2 APG, 40.4 3P%)
  • IND: Trayce Jackson-Davis - F (18.3 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.7 BPG, 1.8 APG)
  • IND: Race Thompson - F (11.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.0 SPG)

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI VS. INDIANA HOOSIERS BETTING CONCLUSION

Illinois has won each of the past three meetings in this series, and the Illini is coming off a big victory against Wisconsin last time out. I expect the Illini to use that victory as a springboard into this rivalry game.

Some casual bettors and fans might be surprised to see Indiana sporting an exact win-loss record as Illinois, but that's where we are. However, we've seen a lot of inconsistency out of Indiana, beating a good Purdue team, then losing a mediocre Michigan side by a big margin. Indiana topped Ohio State after a loss to a poor Penn State team. They're a lot harder to figure out than Illinois. I think Cockburn and the visitors come away with the win, and they're a nice value at even-money on the ML.

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI VS. INDIANA HOOSIERS BETTING TRENDS

  • Illinois is 1-4 ATS in the past five games overall.
  • Illinois is 8-3 ATS in the past 11 games vs. winning teams.
  • Indiana is 10-1 ATS in the past 11 home games.
  • Indiana is 7-3 ATS in the past 10 vs. winning teams.
  • Indiana is 5-0 ATS in the past five home games vs. teams with a winning road record.
  • The OVER is 12-4-1 in the past 17 games overall for Illinois.
  • The OVER is 5-2 in the past seven road games for Illinois.
  • The OVER is 5-2 in the past seven games overall for Indiana.
  • The OVER is 5-2 in the past seven home games for Indiana.
  • The OVER is 3-1-1 in the past five vs. winning teams for Indiana.
  • The road team is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings.

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Daniel Dobish

Daniel Dobish

Dan is a handicapper and sports betting expert for VegasInsider with years of experience writing for a number of top publications in the industry. More from Daniel Dobish
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