Illinois vs. Rutgers Dunkel Predictions & Vegas Odds - Jan. 8

The No. 16 Illinois Fighting Illini (11-3, 2-1 Big Ten) host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8-7, 1-3 Big Ten) at State Farm Center, beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 8, 2026. The Scarlet Knights are 22.5-point underdogs in the game. The over/under is set at 145.5 in the matchup.

Illinois enters this matchup on the heels of a 73-65 win over Penn State on Saturday. Kylan Boswell scored a team-high 18 points for Illinois in the victory. Rutgers is coming off of an 88-85 OT win against Oregon in its most recent game on Monday. Tariq Francis scored a team-best 30 points for Rutgers in the victory.

Illinois vs. Rutgers Odds and Game Time

• When: Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Where: State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois
• Spread favorite: Illinois -22.5
• Moneyline favorite: Illinois -7692
• Moneyline underdog: Rutgers +1900
• Over/Under: 145.5 points

How to watch Illinois vs. Rutgers

• TV Channel: Big Ten Network
• Live Stream: Fubo
• Check out the rest of our Dunkel Index NCAA Basketball Picks!

Betting the Over/Under: Illinois vs. Rutgers

• Nine of Illinois' games this season have gone over Thursday's total of 145.5 points.
• This season, six games Rutgers has played finished with a combined score higher than 145.5 points.
• The total for the contest of 145.5 is 11.9 points fewer than the combined points per game averages for the Fighting Illini (87.1 points per game) and the Scarlet Knights (70.3 points per game).
• This matchup's over/under is 4.8 fewer points than the 140.7 these two teams combine to give up per game in 2024.
• Illinois has a 155.4 average over/under in its games this season, 9.9 more points than the over/under in this matchup.
• The over/under for this matchup is 2.7 points more than the average over/under in Rutgers' games this season (142.8 points).

Betting the Spread: Illinois vs. Rutgers

• Illinois has played 14 games, with eight wins against the spread.
• The Fighting Illini have been favored by 22.5 points or more six times this season and are 4-2 ATS in those contests.
• Rutgers has five wins against the spread in 15 games this year.
• This year, the Scarlet Knights are winless against the spread when entering a game as an underdog of 22.5 points or more.
• At home this season, Illinois is 7-1 overall and 5-3 against the spread.
• At home, Illinois is 4-2 ATS as a 22.5-point favorite or greater.

Betting the Moneyline: Illinois vs. Rutgers

• This season, Illinois has won 10 out of the 12 games, or 83.3%, in which it has been the moneyline favorite.
• The Fighting Illini are undefeated in six games this season when favored by -7692 or more on the moneyline.
• Illinois has a 98.7% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
• Rutgers has been chosen as moneyline underdogs in eight games this year and has walked away with the win two times (25%) in those games.
• The Scarlet Knights have played as an underdog of +1900 or more just one time this year and came away with a loss in that game.
• Rutgers has an implied victory probability of 5% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.