No. 18 Purdue at Illinois Prediction: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends and Stats
There is one game in the Big Ten tonight. The Purdue Boilermakers (21-9, 13-6) are in Champaign to take on the Fighting Illini of Illinois (19-11, 11-8).
It is the final game of the regular season for these schools. Purdue is fighting to finish Top 4 in the conference. Illinois is looking to finish as high as seventh.
The Illini smacked Michigan in Ann Arbor last Sunday, 93-73. It was their second straight win after three consecutive losses. Tre White led the way with 19 points against the Wolverines.
Like Illinois, Purdue is riding a modest two-game winning streak after four straight losses. This past Tuesday they routed Rutgers 100-71 scoring 50 points in each half against the Scarlet Knights. Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer each scored 23 points in the win.
Purdue is 5-5 on the road while Illinois is 12-4 at home.
Lets dive into the matchup and offer some information and possibly a sweat or two.
We've got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the opening tip, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Game details & how to watch Purdue at Illinois
Date: Friday, March 7, 2025
Time: 8:00PM EST
Site: State Farm Center
City: Champaign, IL
Network/Streaming: FOX
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest scores and player news. Check out our day-by-day NCAA Basketball Schedule Page that includes live game updates.
Game odds for Boilermakers at Fighting Illini
The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of BetMGM:
Odds: Purdue Boilermakers (+155), Illinois Fighting Illini (-190)
Spread: Fighting Illini -4.5
Total: 159.5 points
Expert picks & predictions for Purdue at Illinois
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NCAA calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, injuries, and the schedule.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Purdue at Illinois Best Bets
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today's Boilermakers & Fighting Illini game:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Purdue Boilermakers +4.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 159.5.
Purdue at Illinois: Top betting trends and recent stats
Purdue has won 7 of their last 10 games against Illinois but are 5-5 ATS in those 10 games
In their last two games (both wins), Purdue has covered the spread and cashed the Over
Illinois has won their last two games covering the spread in both while cashing the Over in 1 of the 2
Illinois is 3-2 ATS in their last 5 home games
Purdue is 2-3 ATS in their last 5 road games
If you're looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NCAA Basketball Top Trends Tool on NBCSports.com!
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
· Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
· Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
· Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
· Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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