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The Ohio State Buckeyes are set to face the Illinois Fighting Illini. Check out our college basketball odds series, which includes our Ohio State Illinois prediction, odds, and pick.
The Ohio State Buckeyes beat Duke earlier this season, but they have struggled to play with the same high level of quality since that conquest of Mike Krzyzewski in his final season as a college basketball coach. The reality with Ohio State, as college basketball odds evaluators know all too well, is that outside of E.J. Liddell, this team struggles to find consistent and reliable offense late in close games. Ohio State's offense often dies down the stretch. It did against Iowa in a loss on Saturday. It did on Monday against Indiana before four late points forged overtime. Ohio State was able to find a spark in the extra period and beat the Hoosiers.
Ohio State plays very sound defense — it's how the Buckeyes win games — but their margin for error is small and their ceiling is low because of the lack of offensive options when opposing defenses have a big man who can take away Liddell. The Ohio State Illinois odds are where they are because of OSU's offensive limitations. When thinking about an Ohio State Illinois prediction, the struggles of the Buckeyes' offense come front and center.
The Illinois Fighting Illini have had a terrific season in 2022. They lost Ayo Dosunmu to the NBA in the offseason, so they needed to find other pieces which could compensate for his departure. Utah transfer Alfonso Plummer, a knockdown shooter, has filled the bill for head coach Brad Underwood. When making an Ohio State Illinois pick, you need to know that Illinois has complementary role players surrounding big man Kofi Cockburn. Andre Curbelo and Trent Frazier join Plummer in giving the Illini a versatile supporting cast. Defenses pay a price if they double-team Cockburn in the low post.
Illinois is battling Purdue and Wisconsin for the regular-season Big Ten championship. This is a necessary game for the Illini if they want to claim that title and the No. 1 seed at the upcoming Big Ten Tournament.
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Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Ohio State-Illinois odds:
College Basketball Odds: Ohio State-Illinois Odds
Ohio State: +7 (-110)
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Illinois: -7 (-110)
Over: 141 (-110)
Under: 141 (-110)
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Why Ohio State Could Cover the Spread
The Buckeyes defend really well and can certainly throw Illinois off balance. Ohio State beat Wisconsin earlier this season and came back from a 20-point deficit to tie Purdue on the road late before the Boilermakers hit a game-winning shot. OSU can certainly keep this game closer than seven points.
Why Illinois Could Cover the Spread
The Illini are a clearly better team, with offensive options which will make it hard for Ohio State to defend them at all five positions on the floor. The Illini are playing at home as well, and they know OSU struggles on offense. They are in good position to cover the spread.
Final Ohio State-Illinois Prediction & Pick
Ohio State is capable of winning this game, but the Buckeyes simply haven't displayed anything close to top form in recent weeks. Going strictly by how these teams have played in the past week, Illinois owns a decided upper hand.
Final Ohio State-Illinois Pick: Illinois -7
