Illinois Fighting Illini vs Missouri Tigers Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 12/22/24

The Fighting Illini get ready to take on the Missouri Tigers Sunday afternoon as they look to rebound from a tough loss against Tennessee.  Illinois has only played two conference games so far this season, and they’ll have their fifth straight game against a quality opponent and it’s not going to be easy.  Missouri has won 10 games in a row, and they’ll be looking to make it 11, but it’s not going to be easy against this Fighting Illini team.

Missouri has been playing exceptionally well this season, averaging 88.7 points per game while giving up 66.7 points per game on average.  Missouri has four players averaging double digits per game, Caleb Grill averages 13.6, Mark Mitchell with 13.5, Tamar Bates with 12.3, and Anthony Robinson II with 11.5 points per game.  As for Illinois, they average 84 points per game while giving up 64.6 points per game.  Illinois also has four players averaging double digits, and leading the Fighting Illini this season is Kaspara Jakucinois who averages 16.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.  This Illinois team has had its ups and down so far this season, and they have proven they can score a lot of points, but their defense has been shaky at times.  This Missouri has proven they can score, and they were able to beat Kansas earlier in the season.  I expect this game to come down to the wire, and that’s why I’ll be backing Missouri as my best bet of the day. 

Illinois vs Missouri prediction: Missouri +3 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.