| MATCHUP | Sam Houston State Bearkats | Illinois Fighting Illini |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 2-1 | 2-1 |
| Where | State Farm Center, Champaign, IL | |
| When | Friday, November 13, 2026 | |
| Time | 07:00 PM EST | |
| TV | B1G+ | |
Sam Houston vs Illinois Prediction
In Sam Houston vs Illinois Prediction, Illinois is coming as -36.5 homefavorites. Both teams have identical records so far this season but Illinois has been undefeated at home and has one of the best offenses in the entire country, scoring 103.3 points per game. They also playing much better defense than Sam Houston, whose numbers are inflated because of a 43-point win against a Division III team. The Bearkats are still allowing 11.2 points per game more than the Fighting Illini and I don’t see how they can keep up with an elite offense on the road, as they lost by 22 points and allowed 96 points in their only road game this season. Take Illinois and lay the points at home in this one.
Illinois Fighting Illini Preview
The Illinois Fighting Illini have a 2-1 overall record and a 2-0 home record and a 0-1 road record. They are coming off a 78-84 road loss against Texas Tech and will face Duke and Eastern Illinois next.
Offensively, they are averaging 103.3 points per game, while allowing 66.3 points per game defensively. The Illini are shooting 55.1% from the field and are making 13 three-pointers per game with a 34.8% from beyond the arc, while allowing their opponents to shoot with 32.1% from the field and 25.3% from the 3-point range. They are making 11 free throws per game and shooting with a 56.9% from the free-throw line. They are grabbing 53 rebounds per game and allow 32.3 rebounds per game off their opponents, while averaging 22 assists per game and allowing their opponents to dish 11 assists per game. They average 5 blocks per game and 6.3 steals per game, while committing 14 turnovers per game and forcing their opponents into 11.7 turnovers per game. They commit 16.3 fouls per game and have an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.6.
Andrej Stojakovic leads Illinois Fighting Illini in scoring, averaging 21 ppg on 61.5% shooting from the field. Quentin Coleman follows with 17 ppg on 60.6% shooting from the field. Stefan Vaaks follows with 13.7 ppg on 45.5% shooting from the field. Ethan Brown leads the team in rebounds with 7.7 per game, also adding a team-high 5 assists per game.
Sam Houston Bearkats Preview
The Sam Houston Bearkats have a 2-1 overall record and a 2-0 home record and a 0-1 road record. They are coming off a 85-77 home win against Pepperdine and will face Wyoming and Boise State next.
Offensively, they are averaging 88 points per game, while allowing 77.5 points per game defensively. The Bearkats are shooting 46.1% from the field and are making 11 three-pointers per game with a 36.7% from beyond the arc, while allowing their opponents to shoot with 38.1% from the field and 25.8% from the 3-point range. They are making 12 free throws per game and shooting with a 54.5% from the free-throw line. They are grabbing 55.5 rebounds per game and allow 36.5 rebounds per game off their opponents, while averaging 18.5 assists per game and allowing their opponents to dish 12 assists per game. They average 4.5 blocks per game and 6 steals per game, while committing 20.5 turnovers per game and forcing their opponents into 12 turnovers per game. They commit 14 fouls per game and have an assist-to-turnover ratio of 0.9.
Jacobe Coleman leads Sam Houston Bearkats in scoring, averaging 16.3 ppg on 39.5% shooting from the field. Aidan McDowell follows with 16 ppg on 45.5% shooting from the field. Justin Begg follows with 10.3 ppg on 33.3% shooting from the field, also adding a team-high 4.7 assists per game. Enel St. Bernard leads the team in rebounds with 7.3 per game.
Sam Houston State Bearkats @ Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends: November 13, 2026
Why the Illinois Fighting Illini will win
- Illinois has won each of its last 18 November home games as an AP-ranked team against a non-AP-ranked team.
- Sam Houston State has lost five of its last six road games.
Why the Sam Houston State Bearkats will win
- Sam Houston State has won 11 of its last 14 night games.
Total Points Facts
- Nine of Sam Houston State’s last 10 night games have produced a total of 170 or fewer points.
- Twenty-one of Illinois’ last 24 night games at State Farm Center have produced a total of 168 or fewer points.
Illinois Fighting Illini Player Facts
- Tomislav Ivisic ranks 4th amongst qualified Div 1 Centers for assists per game (3.7) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- Illinois ranks 4th among Division 1 teams for field goals made per game this season (39.7).
- Illinois ranks 360th among Division 1 teams for opponent field goal attempts per game this season (70.7).
- Sam Houston State ranks 25th among Division 1 teams for rebound percentage this season (59.8%).
- Sam Houston State ranks 30th among Division 1 teams for pace this season (77.4).