The Illinois Fighting Illini will look to boost their win total and cover the spread when they tip off against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at University of Illinois Assembly Hall on Saturday in NCAAB play.

The Fighting Illini currently sports a 13-3 record overall in NCAAB action, and have posted a corresponding betting slate of 7-7 ATS. The Cornhuskers are 8-6 and 3-7 ATS. Betting totals have seen the Fighting Illini produce a 7-7 OVER/UNDER record on the season, while the Cornhuskers have gone 5-4-1 against the number.



View Nebraska vs Illinois Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
If you're backing the visitors in this one, you'll find the Cornhuskers listed as 10.5-point underdogs

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Fighting Illini sit at No. 80 in the current college hoops power poll here at Odds Shark, while the Cornhuskers sit at No. 174 on the same chart. The computers running our scores simulations have concluded that the Fighting Illini will win this game 72-63.



How They Match Up:
Scoring and defensive stats point to some edges in this matchup. The game features Illinois's No. 169-ranked scoring average of 68.8 PPG, against a Cornhuskers defense rated No. 80 and allowing 62.5 PPG. The Fighting Illini FG% has averaged 44.8% to date this season, more than the Cornhuskers shooters have managed so far (42.4% per game).

Defensively, Nebraska features the nation's No. 87-rated defense on the road, allowing 66.2 points per game. Illinois, meanwhile, comes in at No. 210 nationally in scoring at home.

In their last action, Nebraska was a 71-40 loser on the road against Ohio State. They failed to cover the 22.5–point spread as underdogs. Nebraska was run off the court by the Buckeyes on Tuesday as Ohio State routed them 71-40 at Value City Arena.

Illinois was a 57-56 Sportsbook in its last match on the road against Northwestern. They covered the 2.5–point spread as underdogs. Illinois got 12 points from Meyers Leonard en route to a 57-56 victory over Northwestern on Wednesday at Welsh-Ryan Arena.


Nebraska Cornhuskers Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 7-3
After a loss are 4-6

Illinois Fighting Illini Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 7-3
Before playing Ohio State are 3-7
After playing Northwestern are 6-4
After a win are 7-3

A few Cornhuskers at Fighting Illini trends to consider:
Nebraska is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
Nebraska is 4-21 SU in its last 25 games on the road
Illinois is 14-2 SU in its last 16 games at home
Illinois is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games
Illinois is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games at home


Next up:
Nebraska home to Penn State, Wednesday, January 11
Illinois home to Ohio State, Tuesday, January 10