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The Illinois vs. Ohio State line was coming in at -10.5 favoring the Buckeyes Tuesday. The total on this game was set at 135 at Sportsbook.com.
No. 2 Ohio State looks for its fifth straight victory against Illinois when its hosts the Fighting Illini on Tuesday night.
The Buckeyes are coming off their second loss of the season, a 76-63 setback at Purdue on Sunday. Jared Sullinger (18.0 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 56.7 FG%) had 25 points and six boards against the Boilermakers, but OSU, which is fifth in the nation in field-goal percentage (49.1%) shot just 38.3% from the field (18-of-47), including 6-of-22 in the second half with nine turnovers. Second-leading scorer William Buford (14.0 PPG, 44.9% three-pointers) shot only 1-of-5 from the field and had just seven points. The Buckeyes won in Champaign, 73-68, in January behind Sullinger's 27 points and 16 boards in 40 minutes. Jon Diebler (11.1 PPG, 46.8% three-pointers) was the only other OSU player in double figures with 15 points against the Illini. In that game, Ohio State rallied from an eight-point deficit with 13 minutes to go, scoring 14 straight points in the second half to hold off the Illini.
Illinois has lost three of its past five games, and five of eight. The Illini fell at Michigan State on Saturday, 61-57, after shooting 37.3% from the field (22-of-59).
Demetri McCamey (14.5 PPG, 6.2 PPG, 47.5% three-pointers) had 15 points on 5-of-12 from the floor for his fourth double-figure scoring game in the past five contests. But he had just five points on 2-of-11 FG in the first meeting with Ohio State. Mike Davis (11.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG) has averaged 13.4 PPG and 7.7 RPG over the past nine games and finished with 14 points, five rebounds and three steals versus the Spartans. He scored 11 points with seven boards against the Buckeyes in January. The Illini lead the Big Ten in defense during league play, as opponents are shooting just 38.7% against them in 14 conference games. Illinois held Ohio State to 39.6% (21-of-53) from the field in its five-point loss in January. No team has shot 50% or higher against the Illini all season.
Ohio State has won the past four meetings with Illinois and nine of the past 11. In addition to their win this season, the Buckeyes swept all three contests in 2009-10, including a 73-57 decision at Value City Arena. The Illini lead the all-time series with Ohio State 99-63, which includes a 40-38 edge in Columbus. The Buckeyes have been a terrible bet since 2011 began, going 4-9 ATS including a 1-5 ATS mark in their past six games.
