Purdue vs. Illinois odds, prediction: 2026 college basketball picks for Jan. 24 from proven model

A top-15 battle in the Big Ten unfolds on Saturday when the No. 11 Illinois Fighting Illini travel to take on the fourth-ranked Purdue Boilermakers. Both teams are in the Big Ten title mix and in the conversation for one of the top seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Purdue is 17-2 overall with a 7-1 mark in the Big Ten. Illinois is 16-3 and also 7-1 in the Big Ten. 

Tipoff from Mackey Arena is set for 3 p.m. ET. The Boilermakers are 5.5-point favorites in the latest Purdue vs. Illinois odds, while the over/under is 152.5. Before making any Illinois vs. Purdue picks, check out the men's college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

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The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times and it enters Week 12 on a sizzling 10-1 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season. Anyone following its college basketball betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns. 

Now, the model has simulated Purdue vs. Illinois 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted men's college basketball picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several men's college basketball odds and men's college basketball betting lines for Illinois vs. Purdue:

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How to make Purdue vs. Illinois picks

After simulating Illinois vs. Purdue 10,000 times, SportsLine's model is going Over on the total (152.5 points). Five of the past seven Purdue games have cleared the total, while Illinois has seen three of its past four go Over as well. 

The model projects that eight total players score in double figures, with Braden Smith (16.9 points) pacing Purdue and Andrej Stojakovic (14.8 points) leading Illinois. The teams combine for 157 points as the Over hits 65% of the time. 

The model also says one side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time. You can only see that pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Purdue vs. Illinois, and which side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to back, all from the advanced model that has simulated this game 10,000 times, and find out.