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The No.8 Alabama Crimson Tide will host the No.25 Illinois Fighting Illini at the Legacy Arena on Wednesday night. The Crimson Tide will look to rebound from a disappointing defeat against No.6 Purdue, their first loss of the season. We tell you if they will win in our Alabama vs. Illinois NCAAB betting picks.
- What: 2024/25 Men’s College Basketball
- Who: Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
- Where: Legacy Arena, Birmingham, Alabama
- When: Wednesday, November 20th, 2024
- Tip-Off: 9 pm. ET
Alabama hopes to bounce back with a win when they host the Fighting Illini in the C.M. Newton Classic.
The Alabama Crimson Tide are 3-1 after their first loss of the season against Purdue last weekend. The Boilermakers defeated Alabama 87-78 in a hard-fought contest at a boisterous Mackey Arena.
The defeat saw the Crimson Tide drop from No.2 to No.8 in the latest AP Top 25 rankings.
The Illinois Fighting Illini are 3-0 this season. Their latest result was a 66-54 win over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies last week. So far this season the No.25 ranked Fighting Illini is yet to face a power conference opponent.
That will all change when they square off against the Crimson Tide on Wednesday night.
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Match Betting
According to the best NCAAB betting sites, the Crimson Tide is set to bounce back with a win immediately.
Alabama is -350 to win on the money line. Unbeaten Illinois is +275 to make it four from four this season.
On the spread, the Fighting Illini are receiving an 8.5-point start. To win with the spread, Illinois is -110. The Crimson Tide are -110 to win and cover the spread.
The total line is set at 167.5. Over and under are both -110.
Check out our Crimson Tide vs. Fighting Illinois NCAAB betting lines on our college basketball betting table. Our NCAAB odds are from the best college basketball betting sites.
| Alabama vs. Illinois |  |  |  |
| Alabama | -350 | -350 | -350 |
| Illinois | +275 | +275 | +275 |
| Alabama (-8.5) | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Illinois (+8.5) | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Over 167.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Under 167.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama’s first defeat of the current season was preceded by three straight wins over non-power conference opponents.
Coach Nate Oats and his team started the season with a straightforward 110-54 win over UNC Asheville at the Coleman Coliseum. Wins over AR State (88-79) and McNeese State (72-64) followed at the Coliseum.
The first setback occurred on Alabama’s first road trip of the season. The loss to the Boilermakers will have been disappointing. Nate Oats would have seen this as a winnable match. At the time the Crimson Tide were ranked No.2 and Purdue were No.13.
In their four matches this season the Crimson Tide has scored 348 points at an average of 87 per game. Alabama has conceded 284 points at an average of 71.
In the betting to win the 2025 National Championship the Crimson Tide is the fifth favorite at +1200. Alabama is +250 in the betting to win the SEC regular-season.
Illinois Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini has had a solid start to the season. They have yet to play any power conference opponents, but they have done what they had to against what has come before them.
The 2024/25 campaign began with a convincing 112-67 win over Eastern IL. That was followed by wins against SIUE (90-58) and Oakland (66-54). All three wins were at the State Farm Center.
Coach Brad Underwood has tightened up the defense of the Fighting Illinois. Illinois has only conceded 179 points in their three matches, an average of just under 60. But this defense is yet to be tested by one of the top teams.
As well as only conceding 179 points at 59.66, the Fighting Illinois has scored 268 points in their three matches at an average of 89.33.
In the betting to win the Big 10 the Fighting Illinois is the fifth favorite at +900. The schools they need to overcome to win the regular-season championship are Purdue (+350), Michigan (+750), Indiana (+800), and Michigan State (+800).
Illinois is also +6000 to win the 2025 National Championship.
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Picks
The odds here seem a bit overly stacked towards the Crimson Tide.
Okay, the Fighting Illini is still a relatively new team learning how to play together, and the Crimson Tide has plenty of ability. So we get it a bit.
But Illinois has plenty of depth. They are a match for Alabama in the playing time category with both teams having nine players who are averaging over 11 minutes this campaign.
Alabama coach Nate Oats has already acknowledged that his team won’t be able to simply overrun Illinois. However, Oats also added it wouldn’t result in the Crimson Tide veering away from their fast-paced playing style. After all, it has been successful, so why would he?
Illinois may well seem overpriced, but that doesn’t mean they will win. It is slightly tempting to get behind them at odds of +275. But equally, we could end up with egg on our face if the Crimson Tide turns up and puts on a showcase performance.
Neither result would surprise me here. So for my betting pick, I am going to back Illinois with the spread.
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