Illinois Fighting Illini vs USC Trojans Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our USC vs Illinois NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Champaign.

USC vs Illinois Prediction

Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Trojans and Fighting Illini. The game is starting at 12:00 ET on BTN, and it's hosted by the Fighting Illini at State Farm Center in Champaign, IL. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this Big Ten conference contest is set at 154.5 points, with Illinois being favored by -14 at home against USC.

USC vs. Illinois Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: USC Trojans at Illinois Fighting Illini
Where: Champaign at State Farm Center
Date: Saturday, January 11th
Betting Odds ILL -14, USC +612 | ILL -950 O/U 154.5

Trojans Preview: Are USC Ready for a Road Win?

USC dropped to 9-6 on the season after falling 82-69 to Indiana on Wednesday. The Trojans, who were +6.5 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread in this road matchup.

USC was tied 38-38 at halftime, but they struggled in the second half, scoring just 31 points while allowing 44. The total points for the game hit 151, going over the pre-game O/U line of 148.5.

Trojans Offense Breakdown

USC put up 69 points in their last game, shooting 41% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 45.9%. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 6 of 26 attempts for a 23.1% rate, while connecting on 54.3% of their two-point shots. At the free-throw line, they made 13 of 18 attempts, good for 72.2%.

Oumar Ballo led the way, shooting 81.8% from the field and finishing with 23 points and 8 rebounds. Myles Rice added 19 points and 9 boards, though he missed all 3 of his three-point attempts. Luke Goode was a bright spot from deep, hitting 4 of 5 threes and finishing with 16 points.

Trojans Team Defense

USC's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 82 points on 43% shooting from the field. The Trojans allowed their opponents to connect on 51% of their two-point attempts, with 23 makes on 45 tries.

From beyond the arc, USC held their opponents to 28% shooting, with just 6 threes on 21 attempts. However, they sent them to the line 23 times, where they converted 18 free throws at a 78% clip. USC also gave up 11 offensive rebounds.

Fighting Illini Preview: Can Illinois Secure a Home Victory?

Illinois improved to 12-3 on the season with a dominant 91-52 win over Penn State on Wednesday. The Illini, who were -7.5 favorites, covered the spread comfortably. The game’s total points of 143 fell well short of the 163.5 O/U line.

Illinois took control early, leading 45-21 at halftime, and continued their strong play in the second half, outscoring Penn State 46-31.

Fighting Illini Offense Breakdown

Illinois put up 91 points in their last game, shooting 44.2% from the field and hitting 10 of 31 from beyond the arc (32.3%). Their effective field goal percentage was 50.6%, and they were strong at the free-throw line, making 13 of 16 attempts (81.2%).

The Illini grabbed 19 offensive rebounds and dished out 19 assists. Ben Humrichous knocked down 5 threes, finishing with 21 points and 9 rebounds, while Morez Johnson Jr. added 20 points and 11 boards, shooting 81.8% from the floor.

Fighting Illini Team Defense

Illinois put the clamps on defensively, holding their opponent to just 52 points. They allowed a 44% shooting performance, with 34 made field goals on 77 attempts.

From beyond the arc, Illinois gave up 10 threes on 31 attempts, a 32% shooting rate. They also sent their opponent to the line 16 times, where they made 13 free throws, shooting 81%.

Trojans vs Fighting Illini Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

In their last ten games away from home, the Trojans have a straight up record of 4-6 while going 5-5 vs. the spread. The team averaged 71 points per game in this stretch.
Through their last ten home games, Illinois has an ATS record of just 5-5. However, their overall record was 7-3 while averaging 79 points per game.
As the betting underdog, the Trojans have an ATS mark of just 4-6 in their last ten games. USC posted a straight up mark of 3-7 in these matchups.
The last ten games that Illinois was favored, they have an ATS mark of 5-5 while going 9-1 straight up.