Illinois vs Ohio State Prediction 12/9/2025 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Illinois Fighting Illini will meet on Tuesday evening in a Big Ten matchup at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview

The Ohio State Buckeyes enter Tuesday’s contest with a 7–1 win‑loss record, including a 6–0 mark at home. The Buckeyes have compiled wins over IU Indianapolis, Purdue Fort Wayne, Appalachian State, Notre Dame, Western Michigan, Mount St. Mary’s, and Northwestern, while dropping one game to the Pittsburgh Panthers. In the Ohio State Buckeyes 86–82 win over Northwestern two days ago, forward Brandon Noel tallied 29 points on 13 of 15 shooting from the field. Noel also grabbed 7 rebounds in the game.

The Ohio State Buckeyes average 88.4 points (27th in the nation) on 53 percent shooting from the field (3rd in the country)  and 36.6 percent shooting from three‑point range per game. The Buckeyes are allowing opponents 69.1 points on 41.8 percent shooting from the field per game.

Senior guard Bruce Thornton leads the Ohio State Buckeyes backcourt averaging 20.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Senior forward Brandon Noel adds 9.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1 assists per game, while freshman guard John Mobley Jr. contributes 14 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest.

Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Preview

The Illinois Fighting Illini enter Tuesday’s contest with a 7–2 record, including a 2–1 mark on the road. The Illini have compiled wins over Jackson State, Florida Gulf Coast, Texas Tech and the Long Island University Sharks, while dropping games to Alabama and the Connecticut Huskies. In the Illinois Fighting Illini’s 75–62 victory over the Tennessee Volunteers earlier this month, Illinois forward Tomislav Ivisic posted 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks, providing the Fighting Illini with efficient frontcourt production.

The Illinois Fighting Illini average 88.7 points (20th in nation) on 48.1 percent shooting from the field and 33.2 percent shooting from three‑point range per game. Defensively, the Illini are allowing opponents 69.3 points per game.

Senior guard Kylan Boswell leads the Illinois Fighting Illini averaging 17 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 0.8 steals per game. Junior guard Andrej Stojakovic adds 14.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, while junior forward Tomislav Ivisic contributes 11.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per contest.

Why the Ohio State Buckeyes Will Win

•            Quality offense. Through 8 games played this season, the Ohio State Buckeyes average 88.4 points per game which ranks 27th in the nation.

•            Balanced roster. Thornton, Noel, and Mobley Jr. provide scoring, rebounding, and playmaking ability.

•            Home dominance. The Ohio State Buckeyes are unbeaten at home (6–0) this season.

Why the Illinois Fighting Illini Will Win

•            Explosive guard play. Senior guard Kylan Boswell leads the Illinois Fighting Illini averaging 17.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.

•            Frontcourt presence. Junior center Tomislav Ivisic provide rebounding and efficient interior scoring.

•            Momentum. Illinois is coming off a statement win over Tennessee.

Ohio State vs. Illinois Prediction

This matchup pits the Ohio State Buckeyes balanced offense against the Illinois Fighting Illini’s explosive perimeter shooting. Expect the Buckeyes to push tempo and rely on Thornton’s scoring and Noel’s rebounding, while the Illini will look to Boswell and Ivisic to generate offense.

In my view, the Illinois Fighting Illini’s offensive firepower and depth give them a slight edge in this contest. Ohio State’s home‑court advantage and defensive rebounding should keep the game close. Look for a competitive contest where Illinois perimeter shooting may ultimately swing momentum late. With that said, I am backing the Illinois Fighting Illini plus the 3.5 points in this game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Ohio State +3.5