Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction, Odds and Picks for Thursday, 01/08/26

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will travel to Champaign on Thursday night for a Big Ten game against the Illinois Fighting Illini. The Scarlet Knights have been one of the worst high-major teams in the country this season but are coming off a 3-point overtime win against Oregon on Monday night. That was their first victory over a high-major team this season, and they will be in for a significant test against the Fighting Illini. Illinois is ranked #9 at KenPom and should be able to take care of business against Rutgers.

The spread is currently set at Illinois -21.5 and I like the Fighting Illini to cover the spread because they are clearly the better team and should be able to dominate this game in multiple ways. Illinois has one of the best offenses in the country and can score at will on this Rutgers defense. According to KenPom, the Illini offense is ranked #3 nationally in adjusted efficiency and #9 in offensive rebounding percentage. Illinois is the tallest team in the nation and will likely abuse Rutgers on the offensive glass. The Scarlet Knights’ defense is ranked just #306 in offensive rebounding and could be in for a long night against the Illini big men. Let’s roll with Illinois -21.5.

Rutgers vs Illinois prediction: Illinois -21.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to -23.

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