Two Big Ten contenders face off on Wednesday night as unranked Penn State – perhaps on the verge of the Top 25 – visits No. 13 Illinois, which is a nearly double-digit favorite on the NCAAB odds.
Penn State at Illinois: 2025 NCAAB Expert Analysis in the Week 10.
| Opening Spread/Totals Subject to Change: Illinois -9.5 (total 164) Expert Prediction: Illinois 80, Penn State 72 |
How to Bet Penn State at Illinois NCAA Basketball Lines & TV Info
NCAAB Moneylines: Illinois -435 / Penn State +326
When: Wednesday, 9 PM ET
Where: State Farm Center
TV: Big Ten Network
Stream: BTN+
Penn State Basketball Analysis
Penn State (12-3, 2-2 Big Ten) had a four-game winning streak snapped on Sunday in a 77-71 upset loss to Indiana. It wasn’t a true home game for PSU but played in Philadelphia. A 15-2 surge to open the second half — sparked by swingman Mackenzie Mgbako’s personal 8-0 run in 56 seconds — provided crucial separation as IU won its fourth straight game. Mgbako finished with 20 points. Ace Baldwin missed three 3-point attempts in the final 17 seconds for PSU.
Looking back at this one 👀
— Penn State Men’s Basketball (@PennStateMBB) January 5, 2025
📺: @BigTenNetwork#WeAre pic.twitter.com/YwtEbo1A2r
Mike Woodson
“It was a gutty effort,” Indiana coach Woodson said. “(Penn State) forces you to play 40 minutes. They get after you defensively. I thought if we came in with a defensive mindset and rebounded with them we’d, have a shot.”
Scored Points
Nick Kern Jr. led Penn State with 21 points. Baldwin Jr. finished with 12 points, seven assists and three rebounds. Freddie Dilione V rounded out Penn State’s double-digit scorers with 11 points. PSU shot just 14.3 percent (3-21) from 3-point range compared to Indiana’s 39.1 percent (9-23) mark. Penn State didn’t make its first 3-pointer until there were 6 minutes 45 seconds remaining in the game. The Nittany Lions scored 52 of their 71 points in the paint.
Mike Rhoades
“We weren’t ready to play coming out of halftime,” coach Rhoades said postgame. “That’s on me. I’m mad at myself because we’ve had some really good starts to second halves. Not enough urgency to start the half. We always talk about we want to win the middle eight — the last four minutes of the half and the first four of the second half — and we didn’t do that today.”
Patrick Baldwin Jr.
Baldwin Jr. is the only active Division I player and one of just nine Division I players since the 1947-48 season (77 years) with 1,500+ career points (1,519), 700+ career assists (744) and 300+ career steals (303). Baldwin Jr. is Division I’s active career leader in steals (303) and his 744 career assists are second amongst active Division I players. The reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Baldwin Jr. currently ranks fourth in the country with his 8.4 assists per game and fifth in free throw percentage (94.5%).
Zach Hicks
Senior Hicks leads the Big Ten in 3-point shooting percentage (43.3%) and his 2.6 triples ranks second in the conference. Hicks has led Penn State thus far in conference play, averaging team-best marks of 14.5 points per game while making 3.0 3-pointers per game at a 46.2 percent clip.
The Record
PSU’s 12-3 mark is the team’s best record through the first 15 games of the season since the 2019-20 campaign. The Nittany Lions have been within three points in the final two minutes of all three of their losses. Penn State is outscoring its opponents by an average of 18.3 points per game, a mark that ranks 15th in all of Division I. Eleven of Penn State’s 12 wins have been double-digit victories. The Nittany Lions own three 40-plus point victories this season.
The Rankings
Penn State ranks top 15 in the country in points per game (87.9 – 7th), turnovers forced per game (17.14 – 8th), assists per game (18.4 – 11th), turnover margin (5.4 – 13th) and scoring margin (+20.0 – 14th).
^Penn State at Illinois NCAA Basketball Lines provided by MyBookie
Illinois Basketball Analysis
No. 13 Illinois (11-3, 3-1 Big Ten) won its fourth game in a row Sunday, 81-77 at new Big Ten member Washington. The Fighting Illini, playing at UW for the first time since the 1952 Final Four, had a 17-point lead but the Huskies tied it at 75 on Luis Kortright’s layup with 47 seconds left. Kasparas Jakucionis then scored on a tiebreaking layup with 32 seconds left, and the Illini put it away at the free throw line.
The Stats
The Huskies, who came into the day shooting 45% from the field — second-worst in the Big Ten — shot just 31.4% to dig their hole, and 56.7% in the second half to nearly climb out of it. Jakucionis finished with a team-high 18 points, including four points in the final minute of play. Going 6-for-11 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line, Jakucionis also amassed six assists, five rebounds, and a steal. He reached double-figures scoring for the ninth-straight game and his team-leading 12th game overall.
Kasparas Jakucionis
It was Jakucionis’ fifth game this season with at least 14 points, five rebounds and five assists. Tied with Rutgers‘ Dylan Harper for the second-most such games this season among Big Ten players. Jakucionis earned his second Big Ten Freshman of the Week award this season, also following recognition on Dec. 16. Jakucionis is currently averaging 16.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.4 rebounds on the season, the first freshman from a power conference with 16+ points, 5.5+ rebounds and 5+ assists since Washington’s Markelle Fultz in 2016-17.
On a tear.
— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) January 6, 2025
KJ in Illinois' three wins last week:
16.0 PPG
5.3 APG
5.0 RPG
60% FGM pic.twitter.com/qQERrtzN9Q
Tre White
White tallied 11 of his 17 points in the first half for his second-straight game in double figures. White also corralled seven rebounds and made a steal. After going scoreless in the first half, Kylan Boswell tallied 14 points in the second half while going 5-for-9 from the field across the final 20 minutes.
The Record
The Illini out-rebounded the Huskies 43-30, the fourth-straight game the Orange and Blue have won the battle on the boards. Illinois has outrebounded its last three opponents by at least +12 and have also possessed a double-digit rebounding margin in nine games this season. Illinois outscored Washington in the paint 52-30. The 52 points in the paint were a new season-high mark and the +22 margin was the third time this season the Illini posted a margin of at least +20 in paint points.
Illinois improved to 72-32 (.692) in the Big Ten since 2019-20, the best mark in the conference over that span. The Illini also improved upon their Big Ten-leading road record since 2019-20, moving to 31-22 (.585) away from home in league play over the last six seasons.
The Illini have now won eight of their past 10 games, with the two losses coming by a combined six points — one in overtime and the other to No. 1 Tennessee. Illinois is 3-2 against ranked teams this season, with wins over No. 19 Arkansas, No. 20 Wisconsin, and No. 9 Oregon. The Illini’s three top-25 victories are tied for second most in the nation, one behind Auburn (4).
Tournament Appearance
Following the 2024 Elite Eight appearance and Big Ten Tournament Championship, Illinois has a dramatically different roster this season. The program returns just one rotation player – last year’s ninth-leading scorer Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn – and returns just 2.9% of its minutes, 2.2% of its points, and 2.0% of its rebounds overall Newcomers to the Illini roster have accounted for 92.4% of the team’s scoring so far. Illinois’ top three scorers and rebounders are all in their first year of collegiate basketball.
^Penn State at Illinois NCAA Basketball Lines & Last Meeting
The teams also met just once last season and unranked Penn State was a 90-89 home winner over No. 12 Illinois. Zach Hicks made three free throws after being fouled on a 3-pointer with three seconds left to give Penn State the win after Illinois’ Justin Harmon missed a final layup. Nick Kern Jr. scored a career-high 22 points, and Hicks and Qudus Wahab added 13 apiece for the Lions. Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 19 of his 35 points in the second half for Illinois. Marcus Domask added 15 points. Penn State is 9-16 all-time when playing in Champaign.
^POLL ALERT: Unbeaten Tennessee tightens grip on No. 1 in men's AP Top 25; West Virginia, Michigan and Utah State join rankings.
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) January 6, 2025
Full poll: https://t.co/ZJG5mgWrsa pic.twitter.com/4NgAfAqNIQ
| Penn State at Illinois NCAA Basketball Lines: Place your Bets anywhere, anytime by downloading the MyBookie APP NCAA Basketball Specials: John Wooden Award |
Previous Betting News | MyBookie News Archive
Penn State vs Michigan State College Hoops Spread
As the 2024-25 NHL season unfolds, Stanley Cup top favorites are beginning to separate themselves from the disappointing teams, which creates unique opportunities for bettors to assess the future odds of underperforming franchises.
Picking Out NHL Disappointing Teams Before Betting on Hockey Futures
NHL’s Underperforming Teams: Your Guide to Avoiding Bad Bets
2024 NHL | 108th season of the National Hockey League
Regular Season concludes on 17 April, 2025
Betting the 2024 NHL Season
The 2024-25 NHL season has reached its early stages, but some teams are already facing significant struggles.
For bettors and fans, these disappointments not only shape the playoff picture but also create unique betting angles as the season progresses.
Whether it’s underperforming stars, questionable coaching decisions, or an overall lack of cohesion, several franchises have failed to meet expectations.
Let’s dive deeper into some of the most disappointing teams so far this season, breaking down what has gone wrong and how bettors can capitalize on their struggles.
Writer’s Picks before the Regular Season Ends
Boston Bruins: A Coaching Change and Uncertainty
After a record-breaking regular season in 2023-24, the Boston Bruins entered this season with heightened expectations.
However, a poor start led to the dismissal of head coach Jim Montgomery.
Despite his accolades, including the Jack Adams Award, the team’s lackluster 8-9-3 record forced management’s hand.
The Bruins’ early-season struggles have created uncertainty about their playoff chances.
Bettors should monitor how the coaching change impacts Boston’s performance.
The Bruins won their first two games after the transition, suggesting a potential bounce-back.
However, such shifts are often temporary, leaving questions about consistency.
Matchup-specific bets and live betting may be more prudent than outright futures at this stage.
Another key factor is the performance of goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who has yet to regain his elite form.
If Boston’s defense tightens under new leadership, unders on total goals could offer value in certain matchups.
Not a Stanley Cup Pick: Bruins
Ottawa Senators: A Promising Start Gone Wrong
The Ottawa Senators began the season with playoff aspirations from years of rebuilding and a promising young core.
However, a five-game losing streak has dropped them to the bottom of the standings.
Their defensive lapses and inability to close out close games have been glaring issues, raising doubts about their postseason hopes.
For bettors, Ottawa’s volatility presents opportunities in individual game markets.
The Senators often show flashes of being amazing, particularly against top-tier opponents, making them intriguing as underdogs in certain spots.
However, their inconsistency makes them a risky pick for futures or long-term wagers.
Key players like Thomas Chabot and Tim Stützle have struggled to carry the team during critical moments, highlighting the lack of depth.
Props involving their star players, such as point totals or power-play contributions, may be worth exploring if they face weaker defenses.
Until the Senators find their footing, cautious betting is advised.
Not a Stanley Cup Pick: Senators
Pittsburgh Penguins: Crosby Shines While the Team Flounders
Despite the continued dominance of Sidney Crosby, the Pittsburgh Penguins are in freefall.
Their 7-12-4 record is a far cry from the playoffs contender many expected, and their lack of intensity has been evident in recent blowout losses.
Crosby’s milestones, including his 600th career goal, have been overshadowed by the team’s overall struggles.
Bettors should focus on isolating individual performances within Pittsburgh’s games.
Crosby remains a consistent bright spot, making him a reliable choice for player props like goals or assists.
However, the Penguins’ team metrics, particularly on defense, suggest caution when backing them to win outright.
One area to watch is the Penguins’ goaltending situation.
With inconsistent performances in net, overs on total goals could be profitable in matchups against high-scoring opponents.
Until Pittsburgh addresses its defensive woes, they are best approached as a source of prop bets rather than a team to back in moneyline markets.
Not a Stanley Cup Pick: Penguins
Bet the NHL Hockey | NHL Live Betting MyBookie Betting Lines for the Tournament
^ Top
Test Your NHL Picks with MyBookie to Win Big
, make sure to stay ahead of the game by betting Stanley Cup odds and placing your best NHL bets today.
Sign up now to get started and bet on the NHL action!
Learn More on NHL Betting
How does it work?
Why Picking Out NHL Disappointing Teams is Important?
Picking out NHL disappointing teams is crucial for making informed betting decisions.
By identifying teams that are underperforming or facing challenges, you can avoid placing bets on teams that are likely to underachieve.
This helps you make more informed decisions and increase your chances of winning.
Here are some factors to consider when identifying potential disappointments:
- Injuries:
Key injuries can significantly impact a team’s performance. - Coaching Changes:
New coaches may take time to implement their systems and strategies. - Roster Turnover:
Significant roster changes can disrupt team chemistry and performance. - Off-Ice Issues:
Off-ice distractions, such as contract disputes or legal troubles, can negatively impact a team’s focus. - Team Dynamics:
Issues within the team, such as conflicts between players or coaches, can affect performance.
By carefully analyzing these factors, you can make more informed betting decisions and avoid potential pitfalls.
For more information on NHL odds, lines, and betting tips, check out our NHL News section.
I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?
