Purdue vs. Illinois Prediction Tonight: Our Best Bets, Expert Picks & Odds
Neither Illinois nor Purdue has enjoyed the season that either squad had hoped for thus far. However, both will look to close out Big Ten play on a high note when they go to battle tonight from the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill., at 8 p.m. ET (FOX).
Our Purdue vs. Illinois prediction, odds, and expert picks analyze which side has the upper hand as they both come in riding three-game winning streaks. Our best sports betting sites give the hosts a 4.5-point advantage over their ranked opponents.
Can the Boilermakers pull off an upset or will the Fighting Illini bolster their March Madness odds with a big win?
📈 Purdue vs. Illinois odds movement
Illinois opened as a 3.5-point favorite on home court. While the line shifted slightly in the Fighting Illini's favor in the days leading up to tipoff, it seems to have settled back down around the original line. The hosts are trading at -118 odds on a 3.5-point spread at our best sportsbooks ahead of tonight's finale.
💰 Purdue vs. Illinois predictions, expert picks & best bets today
Here are my best Purdue vs. Illinois predictions, expert picks, and best bets today with my pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale. Be sure to check out the rest of our college basketball picks along with our guide on how to bet on college basketball.
- Against the spread pick: Purdue +4.5 (-102 via FanDuel) vs. Illinois ⭐⭐⭐
- My best player prop bet: Tomislav Ivisic Over 5.5 rebounds (-114 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Exact score prediction: Purdue 76, Illinois 73 (+18000 via DraftKings) ⭐
🏀 Purdue vs. Illinois ATS prediction & best player prop bet pick
Here's why I'm betting on Purdue to cover the spread (+4.5) while targeting Tomislav Ivisic Under 5.5 rebounds as my best player prop bet pick for today:
✅ Purdue to cover the spread (+4.5) ⭐⭐⭐
The Boilermakers lost four consecutive games between Feb. 11 and Feb. 23. While that stretch was disappointing, three of those defeats came against ranked opponents. Now the Boilermakers have been dominant during their last two games while notching two double-figure wins.
The Fighting Illini are coming off a massive 20-point road victory over the Michigan Wolverines. The win was impressive, but it’s also led to them getting too much credit entering tonight’s contest, especially given their recent struggles against ranked opponents.
The Boilermakers have lost three consecutive games on the road, and there's a legitimate chance they lose tonight. However, when looking at the whole body of work, this spread is too large. I expect the Boilermakers’ defense to slow down the Illini’s high-scoring offense, keeping this game low-scoring and close.
📊 Best odds: -102 via FanDuel (bet $10.20 to win $10)
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🔥 Tomislav Ivisic Over 5.5 rebounds ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was ready to take Ivisic’s Under because of how few rebounds the Boilermakers allow per game. However, this number is set 2.2 rebounds below Ivisic’s season average, which is too much of an overreaction to this matchup.
Ivisic is averaging 7.7 rebounds per game. He’s pulled down four or fewer rebounds in his last four outings, which is also a significant reason why this number is so low. However, Ivisic reeled in seven-plus rebounds in five consecutive games before his current slump.
Ivisic is a streaky player. But although the Boilermakers boast the ninth-highest effective field-goal percentage in the country, they'll miss enough shots for him to get opportunities. But can he take advantage? There's a proven track record if you look past his current lull.
📊 Best odds: -114 via FanDuel (bet $11.40 to win $10)
🎯 Expert Purdue vs. Illinois score prediction
🔮 Expert score prediction: Purdue 76, Illinois 73
Both teams are averaging over 78 points per game, with the Fighting Illini averaging 83.6. But both defenses have been good this season too. The Boilermakers are allowing just 70.0 points per game, while the Fighting Illini are giving up 73.3.
The Fighting Illini have scored 81 points in back-to-back games, but they tallied 74 or fewer in their three games before this current streak. And while the Boilermakers can put up a lot of points, including a 100-point performance against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, they’ve registered 66 or fewer in two of their last four outings.
Ultimately, this will be a close game, but one in which the Under comfortably hits, with both teams scoring in the mid-70s.
📊 Best odds: +18000 via DraftKings (bet $10 to win $1,800)
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📊 Live Purdue vs. Illinois odds & latest betting splits
Here are the latest odds for Purdue vs. Illinois, which update live in real time. You can also check out our NEW college basketball player prop odds tool for the latest college basketball odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your region
🔢 Purdue vs. Illinois opening odds
Here's a look at the opening odds for Purdue vs. Illinois according to BetMGM.
- Spread: Purdue +3.5 (-105) | Illinois -3.5 (-115)
- Moneyline: Purdue +150 | Illinois -185
- Over/Under: Over 159.5 (-110) | Under 159.5 (-110)
🏆 Who will win Purdue vs. Illinois?
As of 10:40 a.m. ET, Illinois is the 4.5-point favorite to beat Purdue with moneyline odds of -200 at BetMGM, which suggest a 66.7% win probability for the Fighting Illini. We're predicting a 76-73 win for Purdue as our final score projection.
So far, 53% of bettors have wagered against the spread on Illinois -4.5, while 54% of bettors expect the game to finish Under the projected total of 160.5 points.
📺 How to watch Purdue vs. Illinois tonight
📅 Date: Friday, March 7, 2025
🕗 Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
📍 Location: State Farm Center (Champaign, Ill.)
📺 TV: FOX
💻 Streaming: FOX Sports
❓ Purdue vs. Illinois FAQs
Who is favored to win Purdue vs. Illinois?
All of our best sports betting apps are giving the Fighting Illini moneyline odds of at least -200, implying a 66.67% chance they win this game.
What are the betting odds for Purdue vs. Illinois?
The latest spread is Illinois -4.5 (-118) with a total of O/U 160.5 points.
What will be the final score of Purdue vs. Illinois?
We're predicting a final score of Purdue 76, Illinois 73 entering tonight's matchup at State Farm Center.
What time is Purdue vs. Illinois tonight?
Purdue vs. Illinois will tip off tonight at 8 p.m. ET.
⛹️ Best college basketball betting sites
Looking to bet on college basketball tonight? Here are our best March Madness betting sites as determined by our expert team at Sportsbook Review, along with our best March Madness betting promos ahead of the NCAA Tournament.
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