Illinois Fighting Illini vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights predictions, Jan 08, 2026

Yuriy Borshchenko

9 months ago

NCAA College Basketball, on Thursday, 8:30 pm ET

Score, Highlights

Short Preview

In an upcoming NCAA college basketball matchup, the Illinois Fighting Illini will face off against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at home on January 8, 2026. Both teams have shown a similar recent form, with each winning 3 of their last 5 matches.

The Illinois Fighting Illini, playing on their home court, have demonstrated a slight advantage in terms of recent performance. Their tactical strengths lie in their strong defense and efficient offense, making them a formidable opponent for any team. On the other hand, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights have shown resilience and determination in their past matches, and they certainly possess the capability to pull off an upset.

According to bookmakers’ odds, the Illinois Fighting Illini are the favorites with odds of 1.01, while the Rutgers Scarlet Knights are the underdogs with odds of 16.5. However, in sports, anything can happen, and the outcome of this game is far from certain. It promises to be an exciting and closely contested matchup between two competitive teams.

This preview is generated with the Welcome.Bet AI Insights Engine, combining form data, betting odds, and semantic SEO optimization to deliver relevant match analysis for fans and bettors alike from 2026-01-07T17:52:02+00:00.

Illinois
94.2%

Rutgers
5.8%

00:00 / 90:00 GEO restrictions apply. Funded account required or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. 18+

!!!!! Information about video stream is absent for now

Betting Odds

	1	X	2
	1.01		16.5

Latest Results

03.01.26 Penn State Nittany Lions basketball – Illinois Fighting Illini basketball – 65:73
29.12.25 Illinois Fighting Illini basketball – Southern University Jaguars basketball – 90:55
22.12.25 Missouri Tigers basketball – Illinois Fighting Illini basketball – 91:48
13.12.25 Illinois Fighting Illini basketball – Nebraska Cornhuskers basketball – 80:83
09.12.25 Ohio State Buckeyes basketball – Illinois Fighting Illini basketball – 80:88

05.01.26 Rutgers Scarlet Knights basketball – Oregon Ducks basketball – 88:85 OT
02.01.26 Rutgers Scarlet Knights basketball – Ohio State Buckeyes basketball – 73:80
29.12.25 Rutgers Scarlet Knights basketball – Delaware State Hornets basketball – 65:50
20.12.25 Rutgers Scarlet Knights basketball – Pennsylvania Quakers basketball – 70:69
13.12.25 Seton Hall Pirates basketball – Rutgers Scarlet Knights basketball – 81:59

Facts

In the last 5 head-to-head matches, Illinois won 3.

Both teams are showing inconsistent performances lately.

Illinois may have a physical advantage due to more rest days in recent times.

Recently, Rutgers has had a series of home games.

In this match, Illinois is the undeniable favorite.

In the last 17 head-to-head matches, Illinois won 12 matches, drew 0 matches, lost 5 matches, and goals 1320:1165. (average 77.6:68.5).

Including home matches between the teams, Illinois won 9 matches, drew 0 matches, lost 0 matches, and goals 723:567. (average 80.3:63).

Latest Head To Head

05.02.25 Rutgers Scarlet Knights basketball – Illinois Fighting Illini basketball – 82:73
21.01.24 Illinois Fighting Illini basketball – Rutgers Scarlet Knights basketball – 86:63
02.12.23 Rutgers Scarlet Knights basketball – Illinois Fighting Illini basketball – 58:76
11.02.23 Illinois Fighting Illini basketball – Rutgers Scarlet Knights basketball – 69:60
16.02.22 Rutgers Scarlet Knights basketball – Illinois Fighting Illini basketball – 70:59

Standings

NCAA College Basketball Outrights

1. Michigan Wolverines: 4.3 (11.11%)

2. Michigan Tech: 4.4 (10.86%)

3. Arizona Wildcats: 8.6 (5.56%)

4. Connecticut Huskies: 10.1 (4.73%)

5. Iowa State: 11.2 (4.27%)

6. Purdue Boilermakers: 13 (3.68%)

7. Duke Blue Devils: 13.6 (3.51%)

8. Houston Cougars: 15.2 (3.14%)

9. Gonzaga Bulldogs: 16.8 (2.84%)

10. Illinois Fighting Illini: 26 (1.84%)

11. Michigan State: 27 (1.77%)

12. Brigham Young: 27 (1.77%)

13. Michigan State Spartans W: 29 (1.65%)

14. Vanderbilt Commodores: 29.4 (1.63%)

15. Alabama Crimson Tide: 30.4 (1.57%)

16. Florida Gators: 33.4 (1.43%)

17. Louisville: 34 (1.41%)

18. Arkansas State: 34 (1.41%)

19. Kansas Jayhawks: 35.4 (1.35%)

20. Arkansas Razorbacks: 38.25 (1.25%)

21. Texas Tech: 39 (1.23%)

22. Tennessee Volunteers: 43 (1.11%)

23. North Carolina: 43 (1.11%)

24. Nebraska Cornhuskers: 50.2 (0.95%)

25. Kentucky Wildcats: 52.2 (0.92%)

26. St. Johns Sonics: 75 (0.64%)

27. Virginia Cavaliers: 80.2 (0.6%)

28. St. Johns Red Storm: 87.75 (0.54%)

29. Iowa Hawkeyes: 90.2 (0.53%)

30. VCU Rams: 100 (0.48%)

31. UC Irvine: 100 (0.48%)

32. Dayton Flyers: 100 (0.48%)

33. High Point: 100 (0.48%)

34. Seton Hall Pirates: 100 (0.48%)

35. UC San Diego: 100 (0.48%)

36. George Mason: 100 (0.48%)

37. St. Marys (CA): 100 (0.48%)

38. McNeese State: 100 (0.48%)

39. Utah State: 100 (0.48%)

40. Penn State: 100 (0.48%)

41. Yale: 100 (0.48%)

42. St. Louis Billikens: 100 (0.48%)

43. Georgetown: 100 (0.48%)

44. Troy: 100 (0.48%)

45. Akron Zips: 100 (0.48%)

46. Saint Marys: 100 (0.48%)

47. Boston College: 100 (0.48%)

48. Saint-Louis: 100 (0.48%)

49. California Maritime: 100 (0.48%)

50. Georgetown Hoyas W: 100 (0.48%)

51. Miami Hurricanes W: 100 (0.48%)

52. UC San Diego Tritons W: 100 (0.48%)

53. Baylor Bears: 100.2 (0.48%)

54. Clemson: 105.2 (0.45%)

55. TCU: 110.2 (0.43%)

56. Auburn Tigers: 110.2 (0.43%)

57. UCLA: 110.2 (0.43%)

58. Villanova Wildcats: 120.2 (0.4%)

59. Indiana Hoosiers: 120.2 (0.4%)

60. Missouri Tigers: 120.2 (0.4%)

61. Georgia Bulldogs: 120.2 (0.4%)

62. NC State: 120.2 (0.4%)

63. Virginia Tech: 130.2 (0.37%)

64. UCF Knights: 130.2 (0.37%)

65. Wisconsin Badgers: 130.2 (0.37%)

66. SMU Mustangs: 130.2 (0.37%)

67. Ohio State Buckeyes: 130.2 (0.37%)

68. Oklahoma State: 130.2 (0.37%)

69. Miami (FL): 137.75 (0.35%)

70. USC Trojans: 150.2 (0.32%)

71. Wake Forest: 180.2 (0.27%)

72. Butler Bulldogs: 180.2 (0.27%)

73. San Diego State: 180.2 (0.27%)

74. Creighton: 180.2 (0.27%)

75. Texas Longhorns: 180.2 (0.27%)

76. Oklahoma Sooners: 180.2 (0.27%)

77. Stanford Cardinal: 180.2 (0.27%)

78. Texas A&M: 180.2 (0.27%)

79. Oregon Ducks: 180.2 (0.27%)

80. Boise State: 230.2 (0.21%)

81. LSU: 230.2 (0.21%)

82. Memphis Tigers: 230.2 (0.21%)

83. Kansas State: 230.2 (0.21%)

84. Washington Huskies: 230.2 (0.21%)

85. West Virginia: 230.2 (0.21%)

86. New Mexico: 230.2 (0.21%)

87. Cincinnati Bearcats: 230.2 (0.21%)

88. Arizona State: 230.2 (0.21%)

89. California Golden Bears: 262.75 (0.18%)

90. Ole Miss Rebels: 262.75 (0.18%)

91. Maryland Terrapins: 280.2 (0.17%)

92. South Carolina Gamecocks: 280.2 (0.17%)

93. Marquette: 280.2 (0.17%)

94. Colorado State: 280.2 (0.17%)

95. Pittsburgh Panthers: 280.2 (0.17%)

96. Colorado: 280.2 (0.17%)

97. Utah Utes: 280.2 (0.17%)

98. Northwestern Wildcats: 280.2 (0.17%)

99. Notre Dame: 280.2 (0.17%)

100. Syracuse Orange: 280.2 (0.17%)

101. Xavier Musketeers: 280.2 (0.17%)

102. Mississippi St.: 280.2 (0.17%)

103. Georgia Tech: 280.2 (0.17%)

104. DePaul Blue Demons: 280.2 (0.17%)

105. Providence Friars: 280.2 (0.17%)

106. Minnesota Golden Gophers: 280.2 (0.17%)

107. Florida State: 280.2 (0.17%)

Illinois Fighting Illini – Rutgers Scarlet Knights and other NCAA College Basketball events on our partner.