Iowa at Illinois odds, picks and predictions
The No. 12 Illinois Fighting Illini (19-7, 10-5 Big Ten) welcome the Iowa Hawkeyes (16-11, 8-8) to State Farm Center Saturday. Tip is set for 2:15 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Iowa vs. Illinois odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
Illinois is No. 12 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll. The Fighting Illini lost to the Penn State Nittany Lions 90-89 on the road Wednesday, failing to cover as 7.5-point favorites. They are 2-3 against the spread (ATS) over their last 5 yet 3-2 straight up over that span and 14-10-2 ATS on the season. Illinois is led by G Terrence Shannon Jr., who is averaging 22.1 points per game (PPG).
Iowa beat the Michigan State Spartans 78-71 on the road Tuesday, covering as a 9.5-point underdog. The Hawkeyes have won 2 straight games and are 3-2 straight up over their last 5. They are 11-16 ATS on the season and 2-5 ATS over their last 7. Iowa is led by F Payton Sandfort, who is averaging 15.5 PPG.
Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+
Iowa at Illinois odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:35 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Iowa +370 (bet $100 to win $370) | Illinois -520 (bet $520 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Iowa +9.5 (-110) | Illinois -9.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 166.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Iowa at Illinois picks and predictions
Prediction
Illinois 88, Iowa 81
Moneyline
PASS.
Illinois (-520) is the better team and has won 4 straight games at home. However, it doesn't have value on the moneyline.
Against the spread
BET IOWA +9.5 (-110).
Although Iowa hasn't covered well for most of the season, it has played better as of late, while Illinois hasn't. Iowa has covered 2 straight games and is 3-3 ATS in its last 6 on the road. The Hawkeyes have an offense that has scored 88 or more in 2 of their last 4 and should be able to keep pace with Illinois.
Illinois has struggled to cover a large spread at home. It has been a favorite of 9 or more in its last 5 home games, and it is 2-3 ATS in that span. The Fighting Illini have allowed 80 or more points in 4 of their last 6. Their defense isn't good enough to justify a double-digit spread against another competent offense.
Take IOWA +9.5 (-110).
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Over/Under
LEAN OVER 166.5 (-105).
This is a lofty line, but both teams like to play fast and have consistently hit the Over this season. Illinois has gone Over in 6 straight games, scoring at least 85 in 5 of those 6. It has allowed 80 in 4 of its last 5 as well. It is 18-8 O/U on the season.
Iowa is 17-10 O/U and has gone Over in 3 of its last 5, tallying at least 88 in 2 of its last 4. The Hawkeyes have allowed 85 or more in 3 of their last 5. Neither team defends well and both play fast.
Take OVER 166.5 (-105).
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow @nathanbeighle_ 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