Arkansas-Little Rock vs Illinois Prediction College Basketball Picks 11/25/24

The Little Rock Trojans are visiting the Illinois Fighting Illini on Monday, November 25th at the State Farm Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Little Rock Trojans vs Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction.

Illinois Fighting Illini Preview

The Illinois Fighting Illini have a 4-1 record this season and are coming off an 84-40 win over Maryland Eastern Shore. The Fighting Illini are 3-2 against the spread, and 2-3 in over/under, while having a 4-0 home record.

Offensively, Illinois is averaging 88.4 points per game, which is the 17th-best in the nation. Defensively, they are allowing 63.8 points per game (53rd). The Fighting Illini shoot 45% from the field (193rd) and  33.1% from beyond the arc (191st). The Fighting Illini shoot 67.7% from the free throw line (254th) and are grabbing 49 rebounds per game, which is the second-best in the nation.

Will Riley leads Illinois in scoring this season, with an average of 18 points and 6 rebounds, while Tomislav Ivisic adds 15.4 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds.

Little Rock Trojans Preview

The Little Rock Trojans have a 3-3 record this season and are coming off a 67-79 loss in Arkansas. The Trojans are 3-2 against the spread, and 1-4 in over/under while having a 2-3 road record. 

Offensively, Little Rock is averaging 72.2 points per game, which ranks 265th in the nation. Defensively, they allow 71 points per game (186th). The Trojans shoot 43.8% from the field (232nd) and 38.5% from beyond the arc (55th). The Trojans shoot 69.4% from the free-throw line (213th) and are grabbing 34.2 rebounds per game (292nd).

Mwani Wilkinson leads Little Rock in scoring with an average of 17.2 points and 6.3 rebounds, while Jonathan Lawson adds 16.3 points and a team-high 7.2 rebounds.

Why the Illinois Fighting Illini will win

• Illinois has won each of its last 18 night games at State Farm Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Little Rock has lost 15 of its last 16 road night games against non-conference opponents.
• Illinois has won the first half in each of its last 10 night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Why the Little Rock Trojans will win

• Little Rock has won four of its last five road games following a road loss.

Little Rock Trojans vs Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction

In this Little Rock Trojans vs Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction, Illinois is coming as -20.5 home favorites, and rightfully so. The Fighting Illini are superior offensively, scoring 16.2 points more than Little Rock, and are sitting in the top 53 of the nation both offensively and defensively, winning by an average of 24.6 points per game. The Fighting Illini are also a force on the glass, as they grab the second-most rebounds in the whole nation. Little Rock is a bottom-100 team offensively and is also below average in field goal percentage. The value here lies with the home team, so pick the Illinois Fighting Illini and lay the points at home.