The Illinois Fighting Illini host Ohio State on Saturday, looking to build on their 13-2 mark against the 11-2 Buckeyes in college hoops action at University of Illinois Assembly Hall.

Illinois battles the Buckeyes, currently sitting with a 11-2 mark (7-4 ATS). The OVER/UNDER records, always important for totals bettors, are 6-5 for the Fighting Illini and 5-4-1 for the Buckeyes.



View Ohio State vs Illinois Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Illinois opened as 3.5-point underdogs in this college basketball tilt over at Sportsbook but the number may be on the move. Watch for the Sportsbook total as well at Sportsbook.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
According to new college basketball power rankings here, it's the No. 63-ranked Fighting Illini and the No. 17-rated Buckeyes in this matchup. Computer formulas aimed at predicting NCAAB scores point to a 90-79 win for the Buckeyes on Saturday.



How They Match Up:
Rebounding is always a key handicapping consideration and Buckeyes is ranked No. 35 in NCAA hoops at 39.7 per game. Contrast that with Illinois’s No. 147 mark in the paint. When it comes to three-point shooting, Illinois is the No. 2-ranked team in the country at 9.5 per game, while Ohio State rates No. 52 at 7.7 per game.

Defensively, Ohio State features the nation's No. 85-rated defense on the road, allowing 65.5 points per game. Illinois, meanwhile, comes in at No. 111 nationally in scoring at home.

In their last action, Ohio State was a 70-44 Sportsbook at home against Nebraska. They covered the 21-point spread as favorites. Ohio State cruised to victory on Wednesday, running Nebraska out of the gym and running up a 70-44 score at Value City Arena.

Illinois was a 68-61 loser in their most recent outing on the road against Purdue. They failed to cover the 3-point spread as favorites. The Fighting Illini got 15 points from Brandon Paul, but it was Purdue that prevailed in a 68-61 final on Wednesday at Mackey Arena.


Ohio State Buckeyes Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 9-1
Before playing Purdue are 8-2
After playing Nebraska are 2-0
After a win are 8-2

Illinois Fighting Illini Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4
Before playing Minnesota are 5-5
After playing Purdue are 6-4
After a loss are 3-7

A few Buckeyes at Fighting Illini trends to consider:
Ohio State is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games on the road
Ohio State is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Illinois
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Ohio State's last 9 games when playing on the road against Illinois
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Illinois's last 5 games when playing Ohio State
Illinois is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games at home
Illinois is 13-2 SU in its last 15 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Illinois's last 9 games when playing at home against Ohio State


Next up:
Ohio State at Purdue, Tuesday, January 8
Illinois home to Minnesota, Wednesday, January 9