Illinois is set to face Indiana in this Big Ten battle on Thursday, Jan. 19. The game is scheduled for 8:30 pm ET while airing on FS1. Illinois enters this game as a 6.5-point home favorite with the total set at 143.5. How will this one play out? Let’s dive into the Illinois vs. Indiana predictions below.
Illinois vs. Indiana Odds
- Spread: Illinois -6.5
- Total: 143.5
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. New to FanDuel? Check out our FanDuel Sportsbook Review to find out how to bet $5 to get $150 in free bets. This is FanDuel’s best offer of the year, and it expires on Jan. 31 — so act now!
Game Info
- Date: Thursday, Jan. 19
- Time: 8:30 pm ET
- Location: State Farm Center — Champaign, IL
- TV: FS1
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Illinois vs. Indiana Prediction
Illinois (No. 19 at KenPom.com) has won four straight games against Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan State, and Minnesota respectively. The Fighting Illini covered the spread in each of those contests as well. They are playing with a ton of momentum and confidence, and it appears that Brad Underwood has his squad playing close to its true potential. Illinois carries a strong offense into this game (rated 40) and an even stronger defense (rated 25) while looking like one of the better teams in the Big Ten Conference at the moment.
In contrast, Indiana (No. 28) is missing two key players — Xavier Johnson and Race Thompson — due to injury. This could hinder their performance against a quality opponent like Illinois. On top of that, Indiana’s recent win against Wisconsin isn’t as impressive as it seems at first glance, as the Badgers did not have their key player Tyler Wahl available. Outside of that win over Wisconsin on Saturday, Indiana hasn’t looked great. The Hoosiers lost three in a row prior to that, dropping games at Iowa, vs. Northwestern, and at Penn State.
All these factors considered, it is clear that Illinois has the upper hand in this matchup. They are playing at home while brimming with confidence with their squad rounding into form. Indiana could fall behind early and struggle to get back into the game. The spread is more than two possessions, but Illinois should win this game going away. Take the Illini -6.5 at FanDuel.
Score Prediction: Illinois 79 Indiana 68
The Pick: Illinois -6.5 | -110 at FanDuel Sportsbook
