Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Predictions, Picks, Odds

The Ohio State Buckeyes (17-7, 10-5 Big Ten) travel to meet the Illinois Fighting Illini (19-7, 12-4) at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. on Thursday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on FOX Sports 1.

Score Prediction

Illinois 73 Ohio State 69

Best Bets

  • Ohio State +6 (-110)
  • Over 139.5 (-110)

Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Predictions

The Buckeyes were roughed up by Iowa on Saturday, suffering their first loss of the season at home. In fact, they were the last unbeaten Big Ten team at home until that 75-62 loss. Ohio State bounced back with an 80-69 overtime victory against Indiana on Monday night, outscoring the Hoosiers 17-6 in the extra session to grab the cover as 6.5-point favorites while the OVER connected.

The Fighting Illini have alternated straight-up wins and losses across the past five outings with a 79-74 win at Michigan State as three-point favorites. The cover snapped an 0-3 ATS skid by the Fighting Illini. Illinois last appeared at home against Northwestern on Feb. 13, winning 73-66 while the Wildcats picked up the cover as 10.5-point underdogs. The Illini are just 1-3 ATS in the past four games at home, too.

Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Odds

  • Ohio State +225
  • Illinois -244
  • Ohio State +6 (-110)
  • Illinois -6 (-110)
  • Over 139.5 (-114)
  • Under 141 (-120)

Ohio State Buckeyes Analysis

  • SU 17-7
  • ATS 13-11
  • OU 14-10

The Buckeyes have registered three victories across the past four games while also going 3-1 ATS, with the lone exception that stunning loss against Iowa in C-Bus on Saturday. The OVER connected last time out against Indiana in an overtime win, and that snapped a four-game UNDER run.

Ohio State has posted a 7-2 ATS mark in the past nine games overall, while the Buckeyes are 5-2 ATS in the past seven games against teams with a winning overall record, too.

For totals, the UNDER has connected in four of the past five games overall, but that's a rarity. The OVER is 19-7 in the past 26 games on the road, while going 5-2 in the past seven against teams with a winning overall record. The OVER is 16-7-1 in the past 24 following a straight-up win, while going 23-8-1 in the past 32 after a cover.

Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Analysis

  • SU 19-7
  • ATS 12-14
  • OU 15-10-1

The Fighting Illini flexed a little muscle in East Lansing, topping Michigan State on the road 79-74 as a three-point favorite to snap an 0-3 ATS skid. Illinois is still just 3-7 ATS in the past 10 games overall. The Illini are an impressive 5-1 ATS in the past six games at home against teams with a losing road record.

For the Illini, the OVER is 8-3-1 in the past 12 games at home, too. While there are no trends in the head-to-head series as far as totals, the road team is 6-1 ATS in the past seven meetings in this series, and the underdog is 8-2 ATS in the past 10 in the series.

Inside the Stats – Ohio State Buckeyes

  • Record: 17-7
  • PS/G: 74.2 (104th)
  • PA/G: 66.8 (110th)
  • ORtg: 112.2 (23rd)
  • DRtg: 101.0 (218th)

Inside the Stats – Illinois Fighting Illini

  • Record: 19-7
  • PS/G: 76.0 (61st)
  • PA/G: 66.7 (108th)
  • ORtg: 110.0 (39th)
  • DRtg: 96.5 (100th)
Ohio State has cashed in five of the past seven games against teams with a winning record. (AP)

Key Players to Watch

  • OHST: Malaki Branham - G (11.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 48.2 FG%, 45.9 3P%)
  • OHST: E.J. Liddell - F (19.5 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 2.5 BPG, 51.0 FG%, 39.3 3P%)
  • ILL: Kofi Cockburn - C (21.7 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 60.8 FG%, 0.8 BPG)
  • ILL: Alfonso Plummer - G (14.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 39.2 3P%, 88.7 FT%)

Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Conclusion

This is the first meeting this season between the Buckeyes and Illini. The two teams met three times last season, with Illinois winning the final meetings, including a 91-88 overtime victory in the Big Ten Tournament championship game March 14, 2021. Illinois also won in Columbus on March 6 by a 73-68 score, while Ohio State picked up the victory in Champaign on Jan. 16, 87-81, as an eight-point underdog. The OVER has cashed in three of the past four in the series.

Illinois hasn't played very well lately, splitting the past four games straight up while going 1-3 ATS. The only game at home during the past five outings was a win over Northwestern, and the Illini have proven to be much better at home. Conversely, the Buckeyes haven't been close to the same team they are at home, and they're a bit of a one- or two-trick pony without a ton of depth. Illinois will be able to drop Ohio State in the first encounter this season.

Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

  • Ohio State is 7-2 ATS in the past nine games overall.
  • Ohio State is 5-2 ATS in the past seven vs. winning teams.
  • Illinois is 3-7 ATS in the past 10 games overall.
  • Illinois is 5-1 ATS in the past six home games vs. teams with a winning road record.
  • The UNDER is 4-1 in the past five games for Ohio State.
  • The OVER is 19-7 in the past 26 road games for Ohio State.
  • The OVER is 5-2 in the past seven vs. winning teams for Ohio State.
  • The OVER is 16-7-1 in the past 24 after a SU win for Ohio State.
  • The OVER is 23-8-1 in the past 32 after an ATS win for Ohio State.
  • The OVER is 8-3-1 in the past 12 home games for Illinois.
  • The underdog is 8-2 ATS in the past 10 meetings.
  • The road team is 6-1 ATS in the past seven meetings.