The Illinois Fighting Illini take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Peacock.
Illinois is favored by -3.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -170. The total is set at 157.5 points.
Here’s my Illinois vs. Ohio State prediction and college basketball picks for December 9, 2025.
Illinois vs Ohio State Prediction
My Pick: Ohio State +3.5 (Play to +2.5)
My Illinois vs Ohio State best bet is on the Buckeyes to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Illinois vs. Ohio State Odds
| Illinois Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -105 | 157.5 -110o / -110u | -170 |
| Ohio State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -115 | 157.5 -110o / -110u | +145 |
- Illinois vs Ohio State spread: Illinois -3.5
- Illinois vs Ohio State over/under: 157.5 points
- Illinois vs Ohio State moneyline: Illinois -170, Ohio State +145
Illinois vs Ohio State College Basketball Betting Preview
Illinois Basketball
Brad Underwood loves to challenge his team in the non-conference portion of the schedule, and this season is no different.
The Illini have already played Alabama, Tennessee, Connecticut and Texas Tech, going 2-2 in those games.
That type of early schedule will not only bolster its resume/strength of schedule come March, but it also gives the team valuable experience entering conference play.
Speaking of conference play, this is the Big Ten opener for Illinois, and it's a difficult one, having to go play a good Ohio State team in Columbus for its first true road game of the season.
Illinois has been very balanced thus far in the young season, ranking inside the top 20 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, per KenPom.
That ability to get it done on both ends of the floor is critical to having success on the road in conference play.
Kylan Boswell remains one of the steadier veteran guards in all of America, is a pest on the defensive end and is someone Underwood can trust late with the ball in his hands.
Andrej Stojakovic, yes, Peja's son, came over from Cal and has given this offense a reliable shooter who can go on a heater at any point.
Freshman David Mirkovic, who came over from Montenegro, has been absolutely phenomenal on the interior on both ends of the floor and is a legitimate threat for a double-double on any given night.
For the Illini to find a way to get a road win in Columbus, they must do a good job on the backboards and limit turnovers.
Getting off to a fast start to quiet the crowd would also go a long way.
Ohio State Basketball
It's an important year for Jake Diebler after a disappointing 2024-25 campaign.
The Buckeyes could easily still be undefeated so far — if not for a loss at the buzzer at Pittsburgh in a game they led by two with under four seconds remaining.
They did squeak out a home game against Notre Dame in a back-and-forth affair and notched a very important road conference victory over Northwestern last time out.
Just as Boswell is an older reliable guard for Illinois, the exact same can be said about Bruce Thornton for Ohio State.
The senior is a big-time shot maker, seemingly always makes the right decision with the ball and can also get creative down on the block with some back-to-the-basket abilities.
The Buckeyes don't really force many turnovers and aren't the most swarming defensive unit, but they're typically in the right spots and do a good job of limiting opponents to one shot a trip.
Seven-footer Christoph Tilly is a unique matchup, and he can cause problems on both ends of the floor.
Offensively, Ohio State ranks seventh nationally in KenPom's effective field goal percentage rankings, a sign of a team that takes quality shots and knocks them down more times than not.
Illinois will definitely be the most talented team Ohio State has seen this season, so Tuesday night will serve as a good litmus test for where this team is at.
Diebler's team will have to be at its best to win, but there are paths to success on the offensive end. Doing the little things well is a must when playing against an Underwood-coached team.
Illinois vs. Ohio State Betting Analysis
I like this spot for the Buckeyes coming home after a massive road win over Northwestern.
Meanwhile, Illinois has to hit the road again after an emotional, hard-fought victory on Saturday over Tennessee.
Ohio State has the shot the basketball at a high percentage in most of its home games this season, and while the Value City Arena crowd is sometimes hit or miss, I expect the building to be rocking for this one.
Both of these teams can guard well in the half-court, so it'll be difficult for either to create significant margin.
Ultimately, I anticipate this game coming right down to the wire and the Buckeyes having a real chance of winning, so I see plenty of value backing the home team as a short underdog.
My Pick: Ohio State +3.5 (Play to +2.5)
