The No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats (9-2) are hosting the Illinois State Redbirds (8-4) in a non-conference duel on Friday. This is just the second matchup in history between these two universities, with the Wildcats winning the previous meeting. Kentucky has hit the money line in 13 of its last 19 games at home. Meanwhile, Illinois State has hit the Team Total Over in eight of its last 13 away games.
Tipoff from Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., is set for 7 p.m. ET. The Wildcats are 19.5-point favorites in the latest Illinois State vs. Kentucky odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 149.5. Before making any Kentucky vs. Illinois State picks, check out the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 8 of the 2023-24 season on a 101-64 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $2,000 for $100 players. It is also off to a sizzling 11-3 start on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on Kentucky vs. Illinois State. You can head to SportsLine to see the picks. Here are several college basketball betting lines and trends for Kentucky vs. Illinois State:
- Illinois State vs. Kentucky spread: Wildcats -19.5
- Illinois State vs. Kentucky Over-Under: 149.5 points
- Illinois State vs. Kentucky money line: Wildcats -3062, Redbirds +1330
- ILST: Illinois State has hit the 1H Game Total Over in nine of its last 13 away games
- UK: Kentucky has hit the Game Total Over in 23 of its last 33 games
- Illinois State vs. Kentucky picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Kentucky can cover
Senior guard Antonio Reeves is the No. 1 option offensively. Reeves owns a pure jumper from all across the court and has supreme confidence to let it fly. The Illinois native is second in the SEC in points per game (18.3) and fifth in 3-point percentage (45.5%). In the win over Louisville, Reeves had a season-high 30 points, two steals, and went 4-of-5 from downtown.
Freshman guard Reed Sheppard is another two-way force who is a knockdown shooter with a knack for scoring off the dribble as well. Additionally, the Kentucky native gets into passing lanes to create turnovers. Sheppard averages 12.6 points and 4.3 assists per game. He is also first in the SEC in 3-point percentage (57.8%) and steals (2.8). See who to back at SportsLine.
Why Illinois State can cover
Senior guard Darius Burford swiftly attacks the lane with his quickness, absorbs contact consistently, and gets to the free-throw line with ease. The Illinois native averages a team-high 13.7 points with 2.5 boards per game. He's scored 20-plus points in consecutive games. In the Dec. 21 victory over SE Missouri State, Burford had 22 points and three assists.
Senior guard Dalton Banks is a nice addition to the backcourt. Banks can score from all three levels while being a reliable playmaker. The Wisconsin native puts up 10.9 points, four rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He's supplied 10 points and at least four assists in three of his last four matchups, including on Dec. 17 versus North Dakota State when Banks finished with 10 points, four rebounds, and five assists. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Kentucky vs. Illinois State picks
The model has simulated UK vs. Illinois State 10,000 times and is leaning Under on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 149 points. It also says one side of the spread hits in almost 60% of simulations. You can only see the picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Illinois State vs. Kentucky, and which side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is on a 101-64 roll on its top-ranked college basketball picks, and find out.
