A ranked Big Ten contest is in store when the #7 Purdue Boilermakers (14-2, 3-2 Big Ten) visit the #25 Illinois Fighting Illini (13-3, 6-0 Big Ten) on Monday afternoon. On Friday, both teams picked up conference victories, with the visitors knocking off Nebraska, 92-65, and the hosts defeating Michigan, 68-53.
Monday’s tip-off is at 12 p.m. EST inside the State Farm Center in Champaign, IL. Illinois is a 1.5-point favorite over the Boilermakers, and the over-under total is 152.5 points.
What to Know – Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue has won their last two games heading into Monday’s showdown with the Illini. The Boilermakers are 2.5 games back of Illinois in the conference standings after dropping two of their first three.
On offense, the Boilermakers produce 85.6 points per game while shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from beyond the arc. Purdue’s defense holds opponents to 66.5 points, 41.2 shooting from the floor, and 32.7 percent from three.
The Boilermakers used a dominating offensive performance to take down the Cornhuskers on Friday. Purdue shot 49.2 percent from the floor and won both the rebounding and turnover battle. Zach Edey led Purdue in scoring, pouring in 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field.
Purdue is 8-8 against the spread with an 0-2 mark in true road games. The Boilermakers are 1-4 ATS over their last five games against the Fighting Illini.
What to Know – Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois is one of the hottest teams in college basketball, winning their last six games by double digits. The Fighting Illini are the only remaining unbeaten team in Big Ten play and have only dropped one game at home this year.
Offensively, the Illini score 79.7 points per game thanks to a 47.0 percent shooting effort from the field and 38.3 percent from the arc. On defense, Illinois allows 64.3 points per game, 39.3 percent shoot inside the arc, and 31.8 percent beyond the arc.
Illinois dropped the Wolverines by 15 points in a Friday night conference bout. Three Illini players hit double-digits in scoring, led by big man Kofi Cockburn who scored 21 points and added ten rebounds. Trent Frazier added 18 points, and Alfonso Plummer added 15 in the victory.
The Fighting Illini are 9-7 ATS and 6-3 inside the State Farm Center. Illinois is perfect 5-0 ATS in their last five games at home against Purdue.
The Pick is In
Monday’s contest showcases three of the best big men in the Big Ten in Illinois’ Cockburn and Purdue’s Edey and Trevion Williams. With those guys washing each other out, it might come down to which team is hitting from outside.
For Purdue, this is their biggest test of the season, and they come in with confidence after a blowout victory Friday night. Expect the State Farm Center to be rocking even with the early start and the Fighting Illini to pull away late and stay perfect in the conference.
Betting Pick: Illinois Fighting Illini -1.5
