USC vs. Illinois Betting Line - January 11

USC will take on Illinois Saturday.  The Fighting Illini line opened at -14.5.

No. 13 Illinois hosts USC after Ben Humrichous scored 21 points in Illinois' 91-52 victory against the Penn State Nittany Lions.

The Fighting Illini are 8-1 in home games. Illinois is fourth in the Big Ten in team defense, allowing 66.2 points while holding opponents to 37.6% shooting.

Illinois averages 10.7 made 3-pointers per game, 3.9 more made shots than the 6.8 per game USC gives up. USC has shot at a 47.0% rate from the field this season, 9.4 percentage points greater than the 37.6% shooting opponents of Illinois have averaged.

Kasparas Jakucionis is averaging 16.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the Fighting Illini.

Saint Thomas is averaging 9.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Trojans.

Fighting Illini: 8-2, averaging 87.6 points, 40.9 rebounds, 16.0 assists, 5.1 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.4 points per game.

Trojans: 5-5, averaging 73.8 points, 30.1 rebounds, 14.4 assists, 6.9 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.2 points.

USC is coming off an 82-69 loss to Indiana.  This was their second straight loss and second failed cover following a four-game win streak.

Statistically, this was USC’s first trip away from the Pacific Time Zone.

Illinois has been on absolute fire of late.  They've won their last five games, including two on the road in Oregon and Washington.

Then they went on to beat a 12-4 Penn State team 91-52.

Ben Humrichous scored a season-high 21 points, Morez Johnson Jr. had a career-high 20 points along with 11 rebounds and No. 13 Illinois beat Penn State 91-52 on Wednesday night for its fifth straight victory.

Tre White also had 20 points to help Illinois (12-3, 4-1 Big Ten) win with scoring leader Kasparas Jakucionis sidelined by a bruised forearm.