Illinois vs. Ohio State, Preview, Picks and Prediction for Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Use Code WWWC It’s an early season clash on the hardwood between a pair of Big Ten foes on the hardwood in the Buckeye State as the #13 Illinois Fighting Illini take on the Ohio State Buckeyes Sunday afternoon and we have you covered with our Notre Dame vs. Ohio State prediction. Illinois rolled past #13 Tennessee 75-62 at home in their previous game Saturday night, winning outright as a 2.5-point underdog. Ohio State downed Northwestern 86-82 on the road Saturday night, covering the line as a one-point favorite, in their previous game. In the all-time series between the teams, the Fighting Illini own a 113-82 advantage and have won the last three meetings, including an 87-79 road win in the most recent matchup February 2. Read more about this Illinois vs. Ohio State prediction! Struggling with handicapping? Try our NCAAB Predictions!
Fighting Illini Seeking to Win Big Ten Opener
Illinois bounced back from a loss to #5 UConn as they took down #13 Tennessee at home in their previous contest Saturday. The Fighting Illini improved to 7-2 overall on the year and look to start Big Ten play off on a positive note. Against Tennessee, Illinois was involved in a tight, back and forth first half, heading to the locker room down 34-32 at the half. The Fighting Illini trailed for the last time at 49-48 with 11:03 remaining before going on a 15-3 run that put them ahead 63-52 with 6:55 to play. They weren’t seriously challenged the rest of the way en route to the win. Illinois shot 48.3% from the field, including 11 of 28 from three-point range, and lost the rebounding battle 46-31 en route to the win. Keaton Wagler (eight rebounds, five assists) and Tomislav Ivisic each had 16 points to lead the Fighting Illini in the game.
The Fighting Illini puts up an average of 88.7 points per game on the season, which puts them 26th in the nation in scoring offense. Illinois collects 43 rebounds per contest (17th in the nation) while handing out 14.2 assists per game. The Fighting Illini is above average defensively, ranking 99th in the nation by allowing 69.3 points per game. Kylan Boswell leads the team with an average of 17 points plus 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest this season. Andrej Stojakovic (14.9 points, 3.8 rebounds), Keaton Wagler (13.8 points, 5.6 rebounds) and David Mirkovic (13.8 points, 9.6 rebounds) provide solid secondary scoring options. Tomislav Ivisic (11.7 points, 5.2 rebounds), Zvonimir Ivisic, Ben Humichrous, Mihailo Petrovic and Jake Davis are other contributors for coach Brad Underwood. Illinois shoots 48.1% from the floor as a team. The Fighting Illini connects on 9.7 three-pointers a game (44th) while shooting 33.2% from long range. Illinois is above average at the free throw line this season as they convert 77% of their opportunities, putting them 31st in the nation.
Key Injury Report for Illinois:
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- No Key Injuries
Ohio State Looks to Improve to 2-0 In Conference Play
Ohio State bounced back from a loss to Pitt as they downed Northwestern in their Big Ten opener. The Buckeyes improved to 7-1 overall on the year and stand 1-0 in Big Ten action on the year. Against Northwestern, Ohio State trailed by as many as six in the first half and led by as many as six before going to the locker room trailing 44-40. The Buckeyes faced their biggest deficit at 57-48 with 15:05 remaining, rallied to take the lead for good at 66-64 with 7:16 to go and held Northwestern off the rest of the way. Ohio State shot 57.4% from the field, including four of 14 from beyond the arc, and overcame going 12 of 20 at the charity stripe in the game. Brandon Noel led the Buckeyes with 29 points and seven rebounds in the win.
On the season, Ohio State stands 32nd in the nation in scoring offense as they put up an average of 88.4 points per game. The Buckeyes are 152nd in the country in rebounding with an average of 37.6 boards per game and 44th as they hand out an average of 17.6 assists per game on the year. Ohio State is 94th in the nation in scoring defense as they allow 69.1 points per contest. Bruce Thornton is one of four players on the Buckeyes with 20.1 points plus 5.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per contest this season. John Mobley Jr. (14 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists) and Christoph Tilly (13.9 points, five boards) are solid secondary scoring options. Devin Royal (13.4 points, 5.1 rebounds), Brandon Noel, Amare Bynum, Gabe Cupps, Taison Chatman, Ivan Njegovan, Matthew Grujucic and Colin White are good contributors in the rotation. Ohio State shoots 53% from the field as a team on the year, which is 4th in Division I. The Buckeyes knock down an average of 9.1 three-pointers a game while sinking 36.9% of their attempts from beyond the arc, which is 65th in the country. Ohio State is above average at the free-throw line, sinking 77.8% of their attempts, which is 21st in the nation.
Key Injury Report for Ohio State:
- No Key Injuries
Illinois vs. Ohio State Pick
Illinois vs. Ohio State Spread Pick
- Illinois -3 (4 units)
Both teams are off to strong starts to the year but this will be a test for the Buckeyes. Ohio State has been solid at home on the season, posting a 6-0 mark, but their best win on the year came over Northwestern, who stands 59th in the KenPom rankings. Illinois has two losses, but they were at the hands of Alabama (13th in KenPom rankings) and UConn (7th), while they own victories over Texas Tech (19th) and Tennessee (18th) already this season. The Fighting Illini is a quality team with plenty of depth, not to mention leadership. Take Illinois at home in this contest as they come up with the win.
Illinois vs. Ohio State Spread Pick
- Under 157.5 (4 units)
Illinois is 17th in defensive efficiency, 39th in effective field goal percentage defense (46.1%), 58th in allowed offensive rebound percentage (26.8%) and 59th in field goal percentage defense (39.9%) this season. The Fighting Illini are 13th in tempo with 71.9 possessions per game this season. Illinois has stayed under the number in seven of their nine games entering this contest on the year. Ohio State has gone over the mark in four of their eight games. The Buckeyes are 4th in field goal percentage, third in two-point shooting (65.5%), 65th in three-point shooting, seventh in effective field goal percentage (61%), 47th in free throw rate (.437 FT attempts per FG attempt), and 34th in free throws made per game (19.3) this season. Ohio State is 123rd in tempo with 69.8 possessions per contest. Look for this game to end up a few points short of the total.
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