Illinois Fighting Illini at Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Odds

Opening Line: Illinois +9 / Ohio State -9 O/U 132.5

Time: 9 PM EST Tuesday March 2, 2010 on ESPN

Tonight in a Big 10 match up the 7th ranked Ohio State Buckeyes host the Illinois Fighting Illini. This game is important for both teams, as Ohio State can get a #1 seed in the Big 10 tournament and really increase their chances of a #1 seed in the Big Dance with a win and Illinois may be off the bubble with a win. It looked as if Illinois was in the NCAA tournament, but they have lost 3 of their last 4 games. The Buckeyes are on a 3 game winning streak and they have won 9 of their last 10 games.

This season Ohio State is 16-1 at home and 15-12 ATS and Illinois is 6-4 on the road and 11-16 ATS.

Both teams played on Saturday, but with different results, as Illinois lost to Minnesota 62-60 while Ohio State beat Michigan 66-55.

In an earlier season match between these 2 teams in Illinois the Buckeyes crushed the Fighting Illini 72-53. Illinois has to shoot the rock better than they did in that game, as they only shot 34.3% against the Buckeyes.

Illinois has a solid and well-balanced offense with 2 guards, a center, and a forward all averaging in double figures led by Demetri McCamey (15 ppg).

The Illini will have to figure out how to score against one of the best defenses in the nation in Ohio State, who are only giving up an average of 60.5 ppg.

The Buckeyes do not have a lot of size, but they are an athletic team that is averaging 73.5 ppg.

The Illini have to play solid defense against Buckeyes' G/F Evan Turner (19.7 ppg 9.3 rpg), who has played great in the 2nd half of the season and is a good bet to not only be the Big 10 Player of the Year, but the National Player of the Year as well.

Illinois F Mike Davis (8.8 rpg) has to play solid D in side and he has to hit the boards hard and not allow Turner to get to the offensive glass.

The Illini backcourt of Demetri McCamey and D.J. Richardson (10.7 ppg) have to shoot well from beyond the 3-point arc not only for scoring, but to open up the lane for the big men to score some easy buckets.

Illinois is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games, 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a road underdog, and has an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 games.

Ohio State is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games, 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games against teams with a winning record, and has an Under record of 8-3 in their last 11 home games.

In the last 5 games between these 2 teams in Ohio State the total has gone Under 4 times.