The Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Illinois Fighting Illini in Champaign, Illinois. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
Illinois is favored by 6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -285. The total is set at 154.5 points.
Here are my Ohio State vs. Illinois predictions and college basketball picks for February 2, 2025.
Ohio State vs Illinois Prediction
My Pick: Ohio State +6.5 (Play to +5)
My Ohio State vs Illinois best bet is on the Buckeyes spread, with the best odds currently available at BetRivers. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Ohio State vs Illinois Odds
| Ohio State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -108 | 154.5 -110 / -110 | +230 |
| Illinois Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -112 | 154.5 -110 / -110 | -285 |
- Ohio State vs Illinois spread: Illinois -6.5
- Ohio State vs Illinois over/under: 154.5 points
- Ohio State vs Illinois moneyline: Illinois -285, Ohio State +230
- Ohio State vs Illinois best bet:Ohio State +6.5 (Play to +5)
Spread
I'm taking the Buckeyes on the spread down to +5.
Moneyline
There's no value on the moneyline.
Over/Under
I have no no play on the total.
My Pick: Ohio State +6.5 (Play to +5)
Ohio State vs Illinois College Basketball Betting Preview
Ohio State Basketball
Ohio State defends spot-up shots at an elite clip, ranking in the 92nd percentile. That's been a strength of the Buckeyes all year, holding teams to just 29% from 3 (16th in the country).
Ohio State's success correlates directly to its dominant defense, ranking 21st in defensive efficiency (per KenPom).
During its recent three-game winning streak, Ohio State held all three foes to 1.08 PPP or fewer. Purdue was the only team that cracked 1.00 PPP in that stretch, but the Buckeyes' defense got rolling in the second half in West Lafayette and has yet to slow down.
The Buckeyes' perimeter trio is dazzling of late. Bruce Thornton (17 PPG, 52% shooting) is the catalyst, with a pair of snipers — John Mobley Jr. and Micah Parrish — flanking him.
While Mobley is known for his shooting chops, he's more diverse, dishing eight assists in back-to-back games. Meanwhile, Parrish scored 18+ points in two of the past three contests, including 22 versus Purdue.
If Parrish and Mobley shoot it well, Ohio State has a really strong offensive unit.
Also of note, Ohio State has a full compliment of interior options. Super energetic big Devin Royal is OSU's second-leading scorer and top-rebounder, while 7-footer Aaron Bradshaw and sophomore Sean Stewart can overwhelm the wounded Illini interior.
Illinois Basketball
The narrative on Illinois has shifted from, "Is Illinois the best team in the Big Ten?" to "Is Illinois overrated?"
It's worth noting that Illinois has been without a starter in each of its last three losses. Most recently, 7-footer Tomislav Ivisic got mono and missed the last three games — and a fourth if he's out here, which seems likely.
I’m not sure what to make of Illinois sans Ivisic. The Fighting Illini haven’t performed well in his stead. I think the presence of Ivisic is impacting Illinois on both ends. Without him, its pick-and-pop offense and spacing isn't as strong.
Ivisic is the best post defender on the roster, and him missing time puts fellow freshman Morez Johnson Jr. in a tough spot. When he’s in foul trouble, it pushes Ben Humrichous into a small-ball five role, which is a total disaster.
The numbers highlight the struggles, as the Illini allowed 1.05 PPP or more without Ivisic.
My larger concern about Illinois is its lack of a true identity. The Fighting Illini want to shoot a ton of 3s, but they aren’t a good shooting squad. Their last performance shooting 34% or better from 3 came one month ago today, in a 32-point win over Oregon.
The problem has metastasized with Ivisic out, especially since Johnson isn’t a shooter.
Lengthy Lithuanian guard Kasparas Jakucionis is Illinois' best player, averaging 16.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. However, Ivisic's absence has also impacted his point guard, as Jakucionis is 4-of-19 from deep without his pick-and-pop partner.
For an expanded look, 49% of Illinois' offense comes from pick-and-roll sets or spot-up jumpers. The numbers aren't pretty, though. The Illini score 0.939 PPP (43rd percentile) on spot-ups and 0.758 off pick-and-roll ball-handlers (37th percentile).
Ohio State vs. Illinois Betting Analysis
I'm a bit shocked to see Ohio State sitting at +6.5.
I know winning Big Ten road games is difficult, but Ohio State already beat Purdue at Mackey Arena.
The number is too inflated based on the current performances of the two teams, so I'll gladly take the Buckeyes, who I think have a legit shot to win.
