The No. 20 Illinois Fighting Illini (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten) visit the Penn State Nittany Lions (9-4, 0-2 Big Ten) after winning three home road in a row. The Fighting Illini are heavy favorites by 14.5 points in the contest, which begins at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 3, 2026. The over/under is set at 156.5 in the matchup.
Check out all the Latest NCAA Basketball Betting Previews!
Illinois Cover -14.5 vs Penn State -113
Illinois vs. Penn State betting lines
- Illinois moneyline odds to win: -1449
- Penn State moneyline odds to win: +828
- Spread: Illinois (-14.5)
- Total: 156.5
Illinois statistics, trends and more
As the away team
- In home games last season, Illinois sported a better record against the spread (10-7-0) compared to its ATS record on the road (5-5-0).
- The Fighting Illini exceeded the over/under less often at home last year, hitting the over in eight of 17 home matchups (47.1%). On the road, they hit the over in six of 10 games (60%).
- Illinois performed better as a moneyline favorite in home games last year, sporting a home record of 12-3 home record, compared to going 3-3 on the road.
Last season stats
- On offense, the Fighting Illini were the ninth-best team in college basketball (83.6 points per game) last season. On defense, they were 263rd (74.8 points conceded per game).
- Last season, Illinois was best in the nation in rebounds (39.7 per game) and 104th in rebounds allowed (30.1).
- Last season the Fighting Illini were ranked 83rd in college basketball in assists with 14.9 per game.
Illinois betting records this season
- ATS Record: 8-5-0 (Home: 5-3-0; Away: 1-0-0)
- ATS Record When Favored by 14.5+: 4-2-0 (As Favorite: 7-4-0; As Underdog: 1-1-0)
- O-U-P: 4-9-0 (Home: 3-5-0; Away: 1-0-0)
- Record When Moneyline Favorite: 9-2 (Home: 7-1; Away: 1-0)
- Record When Moneyline Underdog: 1-1 (Home: 0-0; Away: 0-0)
| Field Goal % | Opp. Field Goal % | Rebounds | Opp. Rebounds | Assists | Turnovers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48.4 (56th in nation) | 40.0 (47th) | 39.2 (13th) | 27.5 (39th) | 15.4 (122nd) | 9.8 (40th) |
Need to know more about sports betting before you put down a wager on Illinois vs. Penn State? Here’s everything you need to know about how to bet.
Penn State statistics, trends and more
As the home team
- Penn State was better against the spread away (6-4-0) than at home (8-9-0) last year.
- In terms of the over/under, Nittany Lions games finished over more frequently at home (eight of 17, 47.1%) than on the road (four of 10, 40%) last year.
- Last season the Nittany Lions were 1-2 at home as moneyline underdogs (.333 winning percentage). Away they were 2-8 (.200).
Last season stats
- Last season the Nittany Lions put up 79.1 points per game (54th-ranked in college basketball) and gave up 73.2 points per contest (213th-ranked).
- Penn State ranked 261st in the nation with 30.7 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, it ranked 129th with 30.4 rebounds allowed per game.
- The Nittany Lions averaged 16.0 dimes per game, which ranked them 39th in college basketball.
Penn State betting records this season
- ATS Record: 4-9-0 (Home: 2-6-0; Away: 1-1-0)
- ATS Record When Underdog by 14.5+: 0-1-0 (As Favorite: 3-6-0; As Underdog: 1-3-0)
- O-U-P: 7-6-0 (Home: 5-3-0; Away: 1-1-0)
- Record When Moneyline Favorite: 9-1 (Home: 7-0; Away: 1-0)
- Record When Moneyline Underdog: 0-3 (Home: 0-1; Away: 0-1)
| Field Goal % | Opp. Field Goal % | Rebounds | Opp. Rebounds | Assists | Turnovers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48.8 (50th in nation) | 48.2 (339th) | 28.1 (346th) | 29.5 (105th) | 14.0 (211th) | 9.2 (17th) |
BetDecider Team
The BetDecider team brings you the most current sports betting content, with expert insights and tips. Our aim is that you can make an informed betting decision, including best odds and exclusive sportsbook offers, to maximize your betting experience.
