The 12^th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini will travel to University Park, Pennsylvania to face the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Rec Hall with the game scheduled to start at 6:30 PM ET on Wednesday evening and will air on the Big Ten Network.

The Illinois Fighting Illini enter this game ranked 12^th in the AP Poll and 12^th in the Coaches Poll with a record of 19-6 and are in 2^nd place in the Big Ten Conference with a conference record of 10-4 while having won five of their last six games and are on a two-game winning streak following Saturday’s 85-80 win on the road against the Maryland Terrapins. The success of the Fighting Illini can be attributed to their offensive play as they enter this game averaging 83.12 points per game which ranks 20^th in college basketball. 

Defensively, Illinois has been a middle-of-the-pack team as they are allowing an average of 70.33 points per game which ranks 130^th in the nation. Terrence Shannon Jr. has been one of the best players on the team and enters this game leading the team in scoring and blocks with an average of 21.4 points which is tied for the 8^th most in the nation and 1.2 blocks per game. The Illinois Fighting Illini will look to extend their winning streak to three games when they travel to face the Penn State Nittany Lions.

The Penn State Nittany Lions are in 11^th place in the Big Ten Conference with a conference record of 6-9 and an overall record of 12-14 and are on a three-game losing streak following a 49-68 loss on the road against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday. Penn State has been an above-average team offensively as they are averaging 75.8 points per game which is more than the national average of 73.84 points per game, however, they have been a below-average team defensively as they rank 232^nd in points allowed per game with an average of 73.56 points allowed per game. 

Ace Baldwin Jr. has been one of the better players for the Nittany Lions as he leads the team in assists and steals while being 2^nd on the team in scoring with an average of 14 points, 5.2 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. The Penn State Nittany Lions will look to end their three-game losing streak when they host the Illinois Fighting Illini on Wednesday evening.

WagerWeb has the Illinois Fighting Illini listed as 7.5-point favorites on the road against the Penn State Nittany Lions on Wednesday evening. Penn State has won six of the last ten including the previous three meetings. The Nittany Lions have covered the spread in seven of the last ten including the previous four games in the series. The Illinois Fighting Illini are 13-9-3 ATS overall, 5-2-1 ATS on the road, 10-8-2 ATS as a favorite, and 8-5-1 ATS in conference games this season while the Penn State Nittany Lions are 12-14 ATS overall, 6-7 ATS at home, 9-6 ATS as an underdog, and 9-6 ATS in conference games on the year.

Illinois is the better team this season, however, Penn State has been the better team in the series, winning six of the last ten including three straight against Illinois. The Nittany Lions have covered the spread in seven of the last ten and four straight games in the series. Buy the .5 point and take the points with the Penn State Nittany Lions when they host the Illinois Fighting Illini on Wednesday evening.