Ohio State vs. Illinois Prediction: Will Illinois Take Care of Business at Home?

Ohio State vs. Illinois Prediction: Will Illinois Take Care of Business at Home?

The Illinois Fighting Illini are currently 19-7 on the year with just two home losses all year. Now the Ohio State Buckeyes will look to make it three, in a Big Ten matchup that features two ranked opponents. Illinois is coming off a 79-74 win over Michigan State while Ohio State squeaked by Indiana, 80-68 in overtime.

Can Ohio State be the third team to upset Illinois in Champaign, IL? Here are our picks and predictions for the Big Ten matchup between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Looking for the best sportsbook offers available in your state? Click here

Ohio State vs. Illinois Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

• Date: Thursday, February 24
• Game Time: 9:00 pm ET
• Where to Watch: FS1

Click Here for Ohio State vs. Illinois odds

Ohio State vs. Illinois Injury Report

Ohio State

Out: F Seth Towns (Back), F Justice Sueing (Abdominal)

Illinois

Questionable: F Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk (Concussion) Out: G RJ Melendez (Appendix), G Austin Hutcherson (Hernia)

Ohio State vs. Illinois Line Movement

Ohio State vs. Illinois Prediction

It's extremely hard to win on the road in the Big Ten. Only one team, in the Big Ten, has defeated Illinois on the road, and it was Purdue. It took two overtimes to accomplish. It's not about who is going to win this game though. It's about who is going to cover. Ohio State is very capable of covering a six-point spread against Illinois. The Buckeyes are shooting a 55.3 percent effective field goal percentage while knocking down 37.4 percent from downtown and 54.9 percent from inside the arc. Furthermore, Ohio State can get to the line at a high enough rate and earns over 29 percent offensive rebounds. Against Illinois though, none of that will come easy. The Fighting Illini have held opponents to just 26.2 percent offensive rebounds and despite not earning a whole lot of turnovers, Illinois has done great forcing tough shots. Opponents are shooting 31.6 percent from three-point range and 44.4 percent from inside the arc. On the other hand, Illinois isn't as good offensively but very close to it. The Fighting Illini are shooting a 53.3 percent effective field goal percentage while earning 34.4 percent offensive rebounds. Illinois has hit just under 36 percent of threes and just under 53 percent from two. The turnovers for Illinois can get slightly high at times, but Ohio State, like most Big Ten teams, doesn't really force turnovers at a high rate either. The Buckeye has forced tough shots, holding teams to 32 percent from three and 45.7 percent from inside the arc. These numbers aren't nearly as good as Illinois on the defensive end, but overall, Ohio State's got good enough offense to stick around in this game. Give me Ohio State and the points on the road.

Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Pick

• PICK: Ohio State +6 (-110) (Bet $110 to Win $100)