by Assembly Hall showcases a dynamic Big Ten game Saturday afternoon in Bloomington. The No. 14 Indiana Hoosiers host the Illinois Fighting Illini, with Indiana looking for a regular season upset. Indiana won the first game by double digits on the road. The Hoosiers enter this game 18-8 overall and 9-6 in conference play. Illinois is 17-8 and 8-6 against Big Ten foes. Illinois is 15-9-1 and Indiana is 13-12-1 against the spread this season.
Tip-off is at 12pm ET in Bloomington. Caesars Sportsbook lists Indiana as a 5.5-point favorite, while the over/under, or total points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 144 in the last Illinois vs. The Indiana odds. Before making any picks between Illinois and Indiana, check out the college basketball predictions and betting tips from SportsLine’s advanced computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters Week 15 of the season 66-38 with top-ranked college basketball picks this season, returning nearly $1,700 for $100 players. Everyone who has followed it has seen great returns.
Now the model has set its sights on Illinois vs. Indiana and just locked in their picks and CBB predictions. You can head over to SportsLine now to see the model’s selection. Now, here are more college basketball betting lines and trends for Illinois vs. Indiana:
- Illinois vs Indiana spread: Indiana -5.5
- Illinois vs. Indiana Over/Under: 144 points
- Illinois vs. Indiana money line: Indiana -225, Illinois +185
- ILL: The Fighting Illini are 4-3 against the spread in road games
- IND: The Hoosiers are 10-4 against the spread in home games
- Illinois vs. Indiana picks: See picks on SportsLine
Featured game | Indiana Hoosiers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
Why Illinois Can Cover
Illinois is fantastic on defense. Brad Underwood’s team ranks in the top 30 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, and the Illini protect the rim at an elite level. Illinois is No. 3 in the nation with 5.8 blocked shots per game and in the top ten nationally in block rate (14.6%) and 2-point shooting allowed (44.0%). Illinois is also holding opponents to 32.7% shooting from 3-point range, securing 74% of its defensive rebounds with a 19.2% turnover rate.
Offensively, Illinois is in the top 15 nationally at 56.4% shooting from inside the arc, and veteran Matthew Mayer is averaging 14.4 points on 49.1% shooting in road games. Illinois also secures well over 33% of missed shots on the offensive glass, facing an Indiana defense that is severely below average in turnover rate (16.7%) and steal rate (8.0%) this season.
Why Indiana can cover
Indiana is excellent on both ends of the floor. The Hoosiers are in the top five nationally at 49.5% shooting, including a robust 37.8% mark from 3-point range. With Trayce Jackson-Davis averaging more than 20 points and 11 rebounds per game, Indiana is hard to stop. On the other end, opponents are shooting just 46.3% from 2-point range and 32.1% from 3-point range against Indiana.
The Hoosiers also rank in the top ten in the nation with a 14.5% block rate, and Indiana secures nearly 74% of available rebounds on the defensive glass. Illinois has clear deficiencies on offense, including 31.3% shooting from 3-point range and just 67.8% shooting at the free throw line. The Illini also turn the ball over on 19.0% of offensive possessions, which could provide transition opportunities for Indiana.
How to choose Illinois vs Indiana
SportsLine’s model leans under the total, with only one player projected to score 15 points or more. The model also says that one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of the simulations. You can only see the model’s selection on SportsLine.
So who will win Illinois vs. Indiana? And which side of the spread hits in well over 50% of the simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Illinois vs. Indiana spread you need to jump on Saturday, from the model who has broken down his college basketball picks and find out.
