The Illinois Fighting Illini will try to pay off for their supporters on Sunday when they play host to the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at University of Illinois Assembly Hall in NCAA basketball action.

The Colonels will try to spoil to the party on Sunday; they are 1-2 ATS against the number this season, while the Fighting Illini are 5-3 ATS. Eastern Kentucky is 0-2 on the totals; Illinois is 4-3.



View Eastern Kentucky vs Illinois Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Bettors looking to back visiting Eastern Kentucky before tip-off in this one found them as 16-point underdogs over at Sportsbook earlier.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Fighting Illini - Colonels odds would favor the Fighting Illini if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Illinois is rated No. 73 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Eastern Kentucky is at No. 212. Mathematical models based on recent stats and predictive formulas point to a 86-84 win for the Fighting Illini.



How They Match Up:
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and Illinois has the nation's No. 36-rated offensive output, at 77.9 PPG. The visiting Colonels defense ranks No. 72 allowing on average 60.6 PPG. The Fighting Illini FG% has averaged 45% so far, less than the Colonels marksmen have achieved on the year, 49.5% per game.

Comparing how these foes stack up statistically, Eastern Kentucky owns the country's No. 11-rated mark, allowing 54.5 points per game on the highway. Illinois, on the other hand, rates No. 111 in scoring at home.

Eastern Kentucky was a 63-52 Sportsbook in their most recent outing on the road against Chattanooga. They covered the 4-point spread as favorites. Eastern Kentucky got 23 points from Glenn Cosey en route to a 63-52 victory over Chattanooga on Saturday at McKenzie Arena.

In their last action, Illinois was a 64-54 Sportsbook at home against Norfolk State. The Fighting Illini grabbed a 64-54 win over the Spartans on Tuesday, behind a 14-point effort from Brandon Paul at University of Illinois Assembly Hall.


Eastern Kentucky Colonels Trends:
When playing on Sunday are 3-7
After playing Chattanooga are 1-0
After a win are 8-2

Illinois Fighting Illini Trends:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Missouri are 7-3
After a win are 10-0

A few Colonels at Fighting Illini trends to consider:
Eastern Kentucky is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games on the road
Illinois is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Illinois is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home


Next up:
Eastern Kentucky at North Carolina A&T, Wednesday, December 19
Illinois at Missouri, Saturday, December 22