Illinois vs Cincinnati Picks and Odds (Nov. 22)

• The Cincinnati Bearcats put a four-game season-opening win streak on the line when they battle the Illinois Fighting Illini on Monday as betting underdogs
• The Fighting Illini are coming off a fourth-quarter collapse in last Monday’s 67-66 loss to Marquette
• Read on for all the odds and trends ahead of this CBE Hall of Fame Classic semi-final matchup at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City

The Cincinnati Bearcats aim to extend their unblemished straight-up record to 5-0 on Monday when they battle the Illinois Fighting Illini in CBE Hall of Fame Classic semi-final action as 10.5-point underdogs. Tip-off is set for 6:30pm ET on Monday night on a neutral court at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.

Cincinnati Bearcats vs Illinois Fighting Illini Odds

*Odds at FanDuel as of November 21, 2021.

Bearcats vs Fighting Illini Betting Trends

Monday night’s matchup marks the first meeting between these two programs since December 2004. The Fighting Illini rolled to a decisive 67-45 victory as 6-point favorites in that contest, marking their second straight lopsided win over the Bearcats that year after bouncing them from the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament with a dominating 92-68 win.

Overall, the Fighting Illini have posted decisive wins in three dates with the Bearcats since 1963, while limiting Cincinnati to fewer than 60 points per game over that stretch. Illinois has also produced consistent results when pegged as a double-digit favourite, winning outright in seven straight. The club has also limited opponents to 53 or fewer points on three occasions while covering in three of four as big chalk. The Bearcats hit the hardwood as underdogs for the first time this season, and are winless SU in their past six as double-digit underdogs, but have covered in three of their past six.

Cincinnati Bearcats Outlook

The Bearcats hit the road this season after opening their campaign on an impressive four-game SU win streak. Cincinnati faced little resistance last time out, rolling to a 79-45 win over Presbyterian while limiting the Blue Hose to just 28% from the floor. The squad has claimed victory by wide double-digit margins in three of their four games to date, with the lone exception being a 73-68 victory over Georgia, which was not as close a contest as the score indicates.

Wes Miller is the first #Bearcats basketball head coach to start his tenure 4-0 since at least 1947.

— doug (@desmiff) November 19, 2021

Cincinnati’s fast start continues a run of play that marked the second half of their 2020/2021 campaign. The Bearcats’ steady defensive play has lifted them to No. 65 in adjusted defence in the Kenpom ratings, and helped them extend a steady ATS 8-4 run dating back to last February. However, Cincinnati faces a challenge to overcome their recent struggles against nationally ranked opponents going into Monday’s date with No. 10 Illinois. The Bearcats have lost SU in 11 of 13 overall, and sixth straight to opponents ranked among the top ten.

Highlights from tonight's 79-45 victory over Presbyterian––presented by @pepsi:

🔺 Davenport: 16 points, 6 rebounds
🔺 Lakhin: 10 points
🔺 Oguama: 8 points, 4 rebounds
🔺 Adams-Woods: 7 points, 2 steals
🔺 Saunders Jr.: 7 points
🔺 Ado: 4 points, 5 blocks, 2 steals pic.twitter.com/1zMj7Wdg7M

— Cincinnati Men’s Hoops (@GoBearcatsMBB) November 19, 2021

Jeremiah Davenport once again led the Bearcats charge in last Thursday’s win over Presbyterian. The junior guard drained a team-high 16 points and now leads the Bearcats with 12.5 points per game.

Illinois Fighting Illini Outlook

The Fighting Illini return to action for the first time since dropping a 67-66 decision to Marquette as road favorites last Monday night. That loss comes in the wake of a pair of blowout wins over Jackson State and Arkansas State, and marked just their second defeat away from home since December 2020. The loss to Marquette has also failed to shake the Fighting Illini’s position on the AP Top 25, where they have climbed one spot from No. 11 this past week. The Fighting Illini also remain pegged at No. 6 in the overall Kenpom rating, and at No. 1 in adjusted defence.

Marquette takes down No. 10 Illinois‼️

Tyler Kolek gets the go-ahead swipe-and-score in the final seconds of the game.

🎥 @CBBonFOXpic.twitter.com/l5DjP0860m

— The Athletic CBB (@TheAthleticCBB) November 16, 2021

In addition to blowing a huge 12-point lead while mustering just eight points over the final seven minutes of last week’s loss, the Illini struggled to shoot a season-low 37.9% from the floor while committing 26 turnovers and 24 fouls. A repeat of such a shaky performance is unlikely to get them past the surging Bearcats. However, the squad should get a lift from the return of Kofi Cockburn.

"It's been up and down…three games is a long time when you haven't missed a game in two years, so a lot of mixed emotions, feelings about it but I'm back now"#Illini Kofi Cockburn on his return to the court Monday after serving a 3-game NCAA suspension for selling gear pic.twitter.com/wFO5zQTsbX

— Bret Beherns (@WCIA3Bret) November 21, 2021

The junior big man makes his season debut after sitting out the first three games of the season due to a suspension, and will be looking to pick up from where he left off last season. Cockburn averaged just under 20 points per game during the Fighting Illini’s march to the Big Ten Tournament championship, and subsequent run to the second round at March Madness. Cockburn also led Illinois with 9.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.

• The Pick: Bearcats +10.5 (-110); UNDER 138.5 (-105)