The Washington Huskies are set to play against the Illinois Fighting Illini on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 9:00 PM ET. The game will be held at the State Farm Center in Champaign, IL. This Big Ten conference game will be broadcast on FS1.
Illinois enters the game ranked #9 and is considered the favorite. They hold a season record of 17-3 and perform well at home with a 10-2 record. On the other hand, Washington has an 11-9 season record and struggles away, with only 2 wins in 8 road games.
This game is one of the biggest Top 25 matchups on the schedule for tonight, so be sure you’re ready to take your bets at WagerHome.
Washington Huskies Team Preview
The Washington Huskies have had a mixed season so far. They hold an 11-9 record in the 2026 regular season. On the road, the Huskies have struggled with a 2-6 record.
In recent games, the Huskies showed strength with a 72-57 win over the Oregon Ducks. However, they faced defeats against the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Michigan State Spartans. Their performance has been inconsistent in the last ten games, winning four and losing six.
Key players for the Huskies include Hannes Steinbach and Zoom Diallo. Steinbach has been strong, averaging 17.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. Diallo adds to the offense with 15.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
Illinois Fighting Illini Team Preview
The Illinois Fighting Illini come into this game with a strong record. They are ranked 9th in the AP rankings and have a 17-3 overall record. At home, they have been solid with a 10-2 record, showing their ability to defend their court well.
Offensively, Illinois averages 85.5 points per game, ranking them 33rd nationally. They have a strong three-point shooting game, making 11.1 threes per game, which is 20th best. Their field goal percentage sits at 47.1%, placing them 87th overall.
Defensively, the Illini have room for improvement in steals and blocks, with 3.7 steals and 5.0 blocks per game. They have been consistent in limiting turnovers, averaging only 9.5 per game. Illinois has been effective against the spread, going 13-7 this season.
Betting Prediction
Washington has struggled with the over/under in recent games. They have gone under the total in their last 10 games. Their offensive stats show they score 79 points per game, but their shooting percentages are low.
Illinois, on the other hand, has been hitting the over more frequently. They average 85.5 points per game and have a high effective field goal percentage. Their ability to score and control the game pace makes the over a consideration.
Despite Illinois’s strong scoring, Washington’s trend of games going under makes the under the safer pick. Washington’s recent games have not reached high totals. Considering both teams’ stats and trends, the under is a reasonable prediction.
- Pick: Under 152.5
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