Purdue vs Illinois Odds, Predictions & Props to Target (March 7)

• Purdue and Illinois wrap up their regular seasons tonight
• The Fighting Illini are 4.5-point home favorites over the Boilermakers
• See below for the latest Purdue vs Illinois odds, picks, and player props for March 7

The end of the Big Ten regular season is here Illinois and Purdue. Both teams are riding high after impressive wins. Illinois (19-11, 11-8 Big Ten, 12-4 home, 14-16 ATS) returns home after back-to-back 20-point victories including a road win vs Michigan, while Purdue (21-9, 13-6 Big Ten, 5-5 away, 17-13 ATS) beat Rutgers 100-71 their last time on the court.

Keep reading for my prediction and best bets for Friday’s only Big Ten matchup.

Purdue vs Illinois Odds

Illinois opened as a 3.5-point favorite in the college basketball odds but has moved to -4.5. With -205 odds on the moneyline, sportsbooks are giving the Fighting Illini a 67.21% chance of ending their regular season with a win.

A lot of points are expected to be scored between these teams with an O/U of 160.5. The total opened at 159.5.

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Odds as of March 7 at DraftKings. Claim the best DraftKings promo code before placing your college basketball bets.

Purdue vs Illinois Predictions

After a brutal 110-67 loss to Duke a few games ago, Illinois has rebounded nicely with back-to-back 20-point wins over Big Ten teams. They have the momentum, and their 14th-ranked team in offensive efficiency has shown up. They put up 81 vs. Iowa and 91 vs. Michigan, and now they return home. Illinois is averaging over 83 points per game which is the top offense in the Big Ten.

The Fighting Illini like to push the tempo as they are ranked 18th in the country in adjusted tempo. Purdue also has the ability to score behind guards Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer. The Boilermakers are eighth in adjusted offensive efficiency and score 78.2 points per game. The difference is that Purdue likes to slow the game down and focus on their half-court offense. They are 296th in adjusted tempo.

Purdue has played well against high-tempo teams this season, including wins over Alabama and Ole Miss. When Purdue is down, it is because of their turnovers, but lucky for them, Illinois is not great at forcing opposing teams to turn the ball over.

There is no doubt that both of these teams can score, and with the way these teams stack up against each other, I like for the total to go over. The over is 8-3 in Purdue’s last 11 games, and Purdue is eighth in the country in three-point percentage, while Illinois struggles to stop the three.

When it comes to the side, I believe Illinois’s momentum at home will play a factor. The Illini have only lost four times at home, and this is their last home game of the season. The stadium will be rocking. Purdue has lost their last three road games, and their interior defense has been a problem. Illinois has good size and are now fully healthy. Bet on Illinois to cover the spread at home.

• PUR vs ILL Picks:
  • Illinois -4.5 (-110)
  • Purdue/Illinois Over 160.5 (-115)

Purdue vs Illinois Props

Illinois is bottom 15 in the country when it comes to defending shots from behind the arc, which bodes well for Fletcher Loyer. Loyer has made at least two three-pointers in each of his last eight games and is fresh off a seven three-pointer outing vs Rutgers. He will be shooting early and often to offset Illinois’s fast pace of play. There is a high total in this game, so I love getting -122 odds on Loyer to make at least two three-pointers vs Illinois.

• PUR vs ILL Player Prop Pick: Fletcher Loyer 2+ Three-Pointers Made (-122)