The Big Ten is in the national spotlight Thursday when Ohio State (16-7, 6-6) plays host to Illinois (9-15, 5-8) for a nationally televised game at 7 p.m. ET. The Buckeyes are eight-point favorites, with the over-under set at 144. Ohio State is squarely in the NCAA Tournament bubble conversation and needs a strong finish to the season to claim a solid seed in March. Illinois, meanwhile, has pulled off several stunners recently and enters this game red-hot. Before you make your own Ohio State vs. Illinois picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, has raked in the winnings for those following its picks. Over the past two years, the SportsLine Projection Model has returned more than $5,200 to $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks. It also enters Week 15 of the 2018-19 college basketball season on a blistering 99-67 run on top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it is way up.
Now, the model has simulated Ohio State vs. Illinois 10,000 times. We can tell you it's leaning over, and it also says one side of the spread hits in 60 percent of simulations, indicating the line is way off in this game. You absolutely need to see it before you lock in your own picks.
The model has taken Ohio State's three-game winning streak into account. It hasn't always been pretty for the Buckeyes, but they've powered their way to three conference wins in a row after losing to rival Michigan. Defense has been the catalyst for Ohio State as it has given up just 61.3 points per game during this stretch.
Ohio State's chances of covering against Illinois likely come down to how effective big man Kaleb Wesson can be. He was extremely efficient against Rutgers to start this winning streak as he piled up 27 points. But he has had some quiet games as well, like when he he scored just six against Penn State last week in a tight victory, so the Buckeyes need him to be in peak form to cover the Ohio State vs. Illinois spread.
Covering hasn't been easy for Ohio State this season as it enters Thursday just 10-13 against the spread, and Illinois won't make it easy.
It hasn't been the season the Illini envisioned, but Illinois is getting extremely hot as March begins to approach. The Illini have won three straight and four of five. And they've claimed some big-time wins over Michigan State and Maryland during that stretch, so going on the road at Ohio State and at least keeping it competitive doesn't feel too far-fetched.
Who wins Illinois vs. Ohio State? And which side of the spread cashes in 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Illinois vs. Ohio State spread you should be all over, all from the model that has returned more than $5,000 to $100 players the past two years.
