A rematch between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Ohio State Buckeyes is on tap this Saturday down in Columbus. Illinois lost the first matchup this season against the Buckeyes, but the Fighting Illini have been playing much better of late than the struggling Ohio State side. Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Illinois Fighting Illini vs Ohio State Buckeyes NCAA College Basketball Game on March 6 2021
Where: Value City Arena, Columbus, OH
When: Saturday, March 6, 2021, 4:00 PM ET
Line: Illinois Fighting Illini (odds) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (odds) – view all 2021 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Illinois Fighting Illini (odds)
Record: 19-6 Overall / 15-4 Conference
If wins over the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Wisconsin Badgers were not enough to convince people that Illinois had completely moved on from its upset loss at the hands of the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing, then the Fighting Illini’s 76-53 victory over the Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor last Tuesday should make it crystal clear that Ayo Dosunmo and company are back to their terrifying form. Illinois dominated the Wolverines, who were held to only 35.7 percent shooting from the field and got massively outrebounded, 42-26. Illinois lost to the Buckeyes back on Jan. 16 at home, 87-81, but the Fighting Illini are now catching an Ohio State team that’s been suddenly struggling to find their form. Dosunmo had 22 points in the first meeting with Ohio State, while Kofi Cockburn had 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Illinois, which is averaging 81.0 points per game, has covered the spread in all of its last three contests.
Betting on the Ohio State Buckeyes (odds)
Record: 18-7 Overall / 12-7 Conference
What’s going on with the Buckeyes? After a scorching seven-game win streak that stretched from January to February and included wins over the likes of the Badgers and the Iowa Hawkeyes, Ohio State has now lost all its last three games. In their latest outing, the Buckeyes lost to their rematch against Luka Garza and the Hawkeyes at home last Sunday, 73-57. Hopefully, for the Buckeyes, the five-day break will do wonders for them, especially to their defense. The Buckeyes have allowed their last three opponents to shoot 49.4 percent from the field and 40.3 percent from behind the arc. The offense is still there for Ohio State, as it averaged 78.7 points on 47.9 percent shooting over that stretch. Ohio State will be counting on EJ Liddell to lead them again against Illinois. He had 26 points and seven rebounds in the win over the Fighting Illini.
Ohio State is 6-4 against the spread in its last 10 home games against Illinois.
Writer’s Prediction
Illinois wins, 78-76.
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