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Illinois Fighting Illini vs Ohio State Buckeyes 12/9/25 NCAAB Free Pick

Tonight's NCAAB matchup between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Ohio State Buckeyes promises to be a thrilling encounter between two top-tier teams in the Big Ten conference. Let's dive into the stats and analysis to see where the smart money should be placed.

Both teams are coming into this game without a current streak, with Illinois holding a respectable 7-2 record and Ohio State standing at 7-1. The Fighting Illini have been dominant at home with a perfect 6-0 record, while the Buckeyes have also been impressive on their home court with a 6-0 record but have shown a slight vulnerability on the road with a 1-1 record.

In terms of power ratings, Ohio State holds a slight edge with a power rating of 435.00 compared to Illinois' 427.78. Despite this, Illinois boasts a solid win percentage of 0.778, while Ohio State is not far behind at 0.875. The points differentials for both teams are almost identical, with Illinois at 19.33 and Ohio State at 19.25, indicating that this could be a closely contested game.

Looking at the betting odds, the Buckeyes are favored at home with a spread of -4.5 points, while the Fighting Illini are the underdogs at +4.5. This suggests that oddsmakers believe Ohio State has a slight advantage in this matchup. The moneyline reflects this as well, with Illinois sitting at -195 and Ohio State at +165. The over/under for total points scored in the game is set at 157.5, indicating a potentially high-scoring affair.

When analyzing the teams' performances this season, both Illinois and Ohio State have shown strength on both ends of the court. Illinois has been efficient in scoring, putting up an average of 88.67 points per game, while Ohio State has been solid defensively, holding opponents to an average of 69.13 points per game.

In conclusion, while Ohio State may have a slight edge in terms of power ratings and betting odds, the Fighting Illini cannot be underestimated, especially with their strong performances at home. This game has all the makings of a closely contested battle that could go down to the wire. So, buckle up and get ready for an exciting game of college basketball between these two talented teams.

The predicted final score is for the Ohio State Buckeyes beating the visiting Illinois Fighting Illini 83-80.