Illinois vs. Rutgers Prediction, How to Watch, Odds, Channel - Jan 8

Updated Jan. 8, 2026 8:28 p.m. ET

FOX Sports

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8-7, 1-3 Big Ten) will visit the No. 16 Illinois Fighting Illini (11-3, 2-1 Big Ten) after losing three road games in a row. The matchup tips at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

The Fighting Illini head into their game against the Scarlet Knights as huge favorites. The Fighting Illini are favored by 23.5 points. The over/under for the game is set at 149.5.

Continue scrolling to get all the information ahead of placing bets on the Illinois-Rutgers clash.

Illinois vs. Rutgers How to Watch & Odds

When: Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois
TV: Big Ten Network
Streaming: FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App and FOX One (Try free for 7 days)

Fighting Illini vs Scarlet Knights Betting Information
Favorite	Spread	Favorite Spread Odds	Underdog Spread Odds	Total	Over Total Odds	Under Total Odds	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline
Fighting Illini	-23.5	-110	-110	149.5	-107	-113	-7692	+2017

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Illinois vs. Rutgers Prediction

Pick ATS: Rutgers (+23.5)
Pick OU: Under (149.5)
Prediction: Illinois 84, Rutgers 65

Learn more about the Illinois Fighting Illini vs. the Rutgers Scarlet Knights game on FOX Sports!

Illinois vs. Rutgers Betting Insights

Betting Line Implied Predictions

Based on the spread and over/under, the implied score for the matchup is Fighting Illini 86, Scarlet Knights 63.
The Fighting Illini have a 98.7% chance to collect the win in this matchup based on the moneyline's implied probability.
The Scarlet Knights hold a 4.7% implied probability to come out on top.

Key Spread Facts

Illinois has covered eight times in 14 matchups with a spread this season.
Rutgers is 5-10-0 ATS this year.
Illinois has been favored by 23.5 points or more six times this season, and covered the spread in four of those contests.
Rutgers has been an underdog by 23.5 points or more this season once, and failed to cover the spread.

Key Total Facts

The Fighting Illini games have had more than 149.5 points scored on eight occasions this year.
Scarlet Knights games have had over 149.5 points five times this year.
The over/under for this game is 149.5 points, 7.9 fewer than the scoring average of the two teams combined.

Key Moneyline Facts

Illinois has put together a 10-2 record in games when it was listed as the moneyline favorite (winning 83.3% of those games).
This season, Rutgers has won two out of the eight games in which it has been the underdog.
Illinois has won all six games it played as a moneyline favorite with odds of -7692 or shorter.
Rutgers has played as an underdog of +2017 or more once this season and lost that game.

Illinois vs. Rutgers: Recent Results

Fighting Illini vs Scarlet Knights Recent Games
Date	Favorite	Spread	Total	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline	Result
2/5/2025	Fighting Illini	-6.5	158.5	-255	+209	82-73 RUTGER

Illinois vs. Rutgers: 2025-26 Stats Comparison

	Illinois	Rutgers
Points Scored Per Game (Rank)	87.1 (29)	70.3 (307)
Points Allowed (Rank)	68.2 (65)	72.5 (158)
Rebounds (Rank)	12.4 (13)	11 (75)
3pt Made (Rank)	10.2 (39)	6.3 (309)
Assists (Rank)	14.9 (141)	10.7 (354)
Turnovers (Rank)	9.8 (42)	11.2 (150)

Illinois 2025-26 Key Players

Fighting Illini Leaders
Name	GP	PTS	REB	ASST	STL	BLK	3PM
Keaton Wagler	14	15.4	5.1	3.8	0.9	0.4	2
Kylan Boswell	14	14.9	4.2	3.1	0.5	0	1.5
Andrej Stojakovic	13	14.5	4.1	1.2	0.4	0.7	0.6
David Mirkovic	14	13.1	8.4	2.6	0.5	0.3	1.1
Tomislav Ivisic	11	9.5	4.7	1.2	0.4	0.5	1.4

Rutgers 2025-26 Key Players

Scarlet Knights Leaders
Name	GP	PTS	REB	ASST	STL	BLK	3PM
Tariq Francis	15	14.9	2.5	2.3	1.1	0	1.3
Dylan Grant	15	13.8	5.5	0.5	0.6	0.3	1
Jamichael Davis	15	8.1	2.9	2.5	1	0.3	1.1
Darren Buchanan Jr.	15	7.2	2.8	1.5	0.6	0.1	0.3
Harun Zrno	15	6.1	1.3	0.5	0.4	0	1.3