FAU vs. Illinois odds, picks and predictions
The FAU Owls (7-1) and Illinois Fighting Illini (6-1) meet Tuesday in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the FAU vs. Illinois odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The Owls have bounced back from a non-conference loss to Bryant on Nov. 18 with 5 straight wins, including covers in the past 4 outings. That includes wins over Butler, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech to win the ESPN Events Invitational, and victories over Liberty and Charleston in the Field of 68 Classic. FAU has cashed in 3 straight as the favorite, too.
The Fighting Illini picked up a 76-58 win as 1.5-point underdogs in the Big Ten opener at Rutgers on Saturday, and Illinois has covered 3 in a row. The Illini offense has scored 76 or more points in 4 in a row, while allowing 64 or fewer points in each game during the span. It has won 4 in a row by 18 or more points.
Believe it or not, these teams have some recent history, with FAU scoring a 73-71 upset in OT in Champaign as a 14-point underdog on Dec. 29, 2018, as the Under (145) cashed.
FAU is No. 9 and Illinois is No. 18 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll.
Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+
FAU vs. Illinois odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 10:41 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): FAU -137 (bet $137 to win $100) | Illinois +114 (bet $100 to win $114)
- Against the spread (ATS): FAU -2.5 (-110) | Illinois +2.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 148.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
FAU vs. Illinois picks and predictions
Prediction
Illinois 80, FAU 75
Moneyline
ILLINOIS (+114) is a strong play at MSG at plus-money.
FAU (-137) has been tremendous, shooting 50.7% from the field, including 38.4% from behind the 3-point line. However, this should be a close game, and the Owls are just 70.7% from the free-throw line, which is a bit concerning. In addition, the Owls allow teams to hit 32.0% from behind the 3-point line, which is good news for the Illini.
Against the spread
ILLINOIS +2.5 (-110) is worth playing catching the points, if you can't trust it straight up.
FAU -2.5 (-110) scored a win over a higher-ranked Texas A&M, so it won't be fazed by facing an SEC team, or a team with a number next to its name. And it blew out Virginia Tech in the title game in Orlando, as well as blowing out Liberty by 25 points, a team which was unbeaten at the time. This Owls team is battle-tested, and it won't be pushed around.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Over/Under
OVER 148.5 (-110) is the best play offered in this neutral-site battle.
FAU is averaging 83.9 PPG this season, hitting plenty of 3-pointers. On the flip side, the Owls defense is decent, but not great, and the Fighting Illini should score their fair share of points, too.
Defensively, Illinois is very good, but it hasn't faced a team, outside of the Marquette game, with nearly the kind of weapons FAU employs.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from Paste BN Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin /
College Sports Wire: Men's hoops / Women's hoops / High School