Lay Points with No. 12 Illinois at Penn State
No.12 Illinois (19-6, 10-4) is firmly in second place in the Big Ten and Penn State (12-14, 6-9) is not a team that should challenge the Illini all too much. However, if Illinois wants to be an option for March Madness expert picks, it will need to win Wednesday’s game decisively.
On the road, against Maryland, the Fighting Illini got a big 85-80 win, covering a three-point spread in their last game. On the other hand, the Nittany Lions struggled in their previous game, losing to Nebraska 68-49.
Illinois vs Penn State Game Information
- Game: Illinois (19-6) vs. Penn State (12-14)
- Location: Bryce Jordan Center, State College, PA
- Day/Time: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 6:30 p.m. ET
- Illinois vs Penn State Live Stream: TBS.com
The way Illinois has been playing this season, it could have decent March Madness odds to make a run to the second weekend. Beating Penn State won’t improve Illinois odds, but it could have a chance to solidify them.
Illinois vs Penn State Odds and Spreads
Illinois vs Penn State Betting Trends
- Fighting Illini are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
- Fighting Illini are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games as a road underdog of 7.0-12.5.
- Fighting Illini are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog of 7.0-12.5.
- Nittany Lions are 0-8 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5.
- Nittany Lions are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite of 0.5-6.5.
- Over is 8-0 in Fighting Illini last 8 road games.
- Over is 7-0 in Fighting Illini last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 5-0 in Nittany Lions last 5 home games.
Illinois vs Penn State ATS Pick: Illinois -7½
Illinois will be the better team on the court despite Penn State being home. The Big Ten standings alone represent that – Illinois is in second place, just a game and a half out of first, while Penn State is in 12th.
Each team’s position within the conference helps lean college basketball spreads toward Illinois, but that is only heightened with how well it has been playing. Beating Maryland on the road was significant for the Fighting Illini, having not done so since 2011.
B1G Player of the Week: Terrence Shannon Jr.
🔸 Averaged 29.0 points on 58% shooting, 40% from three, and 86% at the line in two wins
🔹 31 points vs. Michigan (career high in B1G play) & 27 points at Maryland (career high 14-16 FT)
🔸 2x KenPom game MVP honors#Illini | #HTTO… pic.twitter.com/utOYHxiftN— Illinois Men’s Basketball (@IlliniMBB) February 19, 2024
In the last win, Terrence Shannon, who is second in points per game (21.4) in the Big Ten, had a great game, scoring 27 and blocking four shots. Shannon’s play has been one of the most important things for the Fighting Illini, with them winning in 15 of the 19 games in which he has played.
On top of that, Penn State has started to unravel recently, shifting college basketball lines more in favor of Illinois. The loss to Nebraska was rough for the Nittany Lions, scoring only 49 points, as the offense could not find a rhythm.
Illinois vs Penn State Over/Under Pick: Over 156½
This game could be a tough decision for college basketball picks regarding the over/under. On the one hand, Illinois has hit the over in nine of its last 10 games and five consecutively.
However, given what Penn State did offensively in the last game, it is difficult to trust its offense. The big difference is that the Nittany Lions will be the home team for this matchup. That should lead to a slight uptick in the offense while Illinois plays a big part in hitting the over.
Illinois vs Penn State Player Prop Pick: Terrence Shannon Over 20.5 points (-107)
The way that Shannon is playing right now, it seems like nothing will be able to slow him down. After serving a six-game suspension, Shannon has been on a tear and has been playing even better recently. Over his last five games, his lowest scoring output was 18 points, averaging 25.4 in that span. Penn State does not have the defense to slow him down, so expect Shannon to have another solid offensive game.
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Illinois vs Penn State Score Prediction
Questions Of The Day
Can Illinois sneak into the top spot in the Big Ten?
Illinois seems pretty fixed into second place in the Big Ten, a game and a half back from first, but also a half-game up on third.
How has Illinois’ Terrence Shannon played since returning from his suspension?
Terrence Shannon has been back for eight games but just started getting hot over the last five, averaging 25.4 points.
