The Western Carolina Catamounts will look to pick up a win while covering the spread when they take on the Fighting Illini in Illinois at University of Illinois Assembly Hall on Tuesday in college basketball action.

Supporters of the Catamounts have watched them go 3-5 and 3-3 ATS on the year, while the Fighting Illini are at 8-0 and 4-2 ATS. In totals betting, the Fighting Illini are 3-2, while the Catamounts have a 1-1 mark.



View Western Carolina vs Illinois Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Sportsbooks such as Sportsbook had set the Fighting Illini as 18.5-point favorites on the Sportsbook line for this contest. It may have moved, check for updates.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
It's a betting matchup between the No. 46-rated Fighting Illini and the No. 163-ranked Catamounts, according to the latest pro hoops power rankings here at Odds Shark. Prediction formulas run on this game indicate a possible 89-73 result in favor of the Fighting Illini.



How They Match Up:
Scoring and defensive stats point to some edges in this matchup. The game features Illinois's No. 28-ranked scoring average of 79.5 PPG, against a Catamounts defense rated No. 293 and allowing 73.2 PPG. The Fighting Illini FG% has averaged 46.3% to date this season, more than the Catamounts shooters have managed so far (45% per game).

Defensively, Western Carolina features the nation's No. 254-rated defense on the road, allowing 75.2 points per game. Illinois, meanwhile, comes in at No. 82 nationally in scoring at home.

Last time out for Western Carolina, they were a 72-70 loser as they battled Eastern Kentucky on the road. They covered in the match as a 5.5-point underdog. Tawaski King scored 18 points in a futile effort to lead the Catamounts to a win (they lost 72-70 to Eastern Kentucky at Paul S. McBrayer Arena on Saturday).

Last time out for Illinois, they were a 75-62 Sportsbook as they battled Georgia Tech at home. They covered in the match as a 10.5-point favorite. The Fighting Illini got 15 points from Brandon Paul as Illinois ran past Georgia Tech 75-62 on Wednesday at University of Illinois Assembly Hall.


Western Carolina Catamounts Trends:
When playing on Tuesday are 5-5
Before playing Appalachian State are 7-3
After playing Eastern Kentucky are 1-0
After a loss are 4-6

Illinois Fighting Illini Trends:
When playing on Tuesday are 5-5
Before playing Gonzaga are 4-0
After playing Georgia Tech are 1-0
After a win are 7-3

A few Catamounts at Fighting Illini trends to consider:
Western Carolina is 1-6 SU in its last 7 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:
Western Carolina home to Appalachian State, Saturday, December 8
Illinois at Gonzaga, Saturday, December 8