Illinois Fighting Illini vs Missouri Tigers NCAAB Betting Pick & Prediction for 12/22

The Illinois Fighting Illini, ranked #18, will take on the Missouri Tigers in a non-conference game. This game is set for Monday, December 22, 2025, at 8:00 PM ET. It will be played at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO, a neutral site for both teams.

Illinois comes into the game as the favorite with a spread of -8.5. Their current season record is 8-3. Missouri, with a record of 10-2, is the underdog with a spread of +8.5. The game will be televised on FS1, offering fans a chance to catch all the action live.

Illinois Fighting Illini vs Missouri Tigers Game Day Info

  • Sport: College Basketball
  • Teams: Illinois Fighting Illini vs Missouri Tigers
  • Venue: Enterprise Center, St. Louis MO
  • Date: Monday, December 22, 2025
  • Betting Odds: Illinois Spread -8.5 (-115), Missouri Spread +8.5 (-105), Illinois MoneyLine -446, Missouri MoneyLine +341, Over/Under 155.5

Illinois Fighting Illini Team Preview

The Illinois Fighting Illini have an 8-3 record this season. They are ranked 18th in the AP Poll. In conference play, they are part of the Big Ten.

Recently, Illinois lost to Nebraska by three points. Keaton Wagler and Andrej Stojakovic each scored 19 points in that game. Kylan Boswell also contributed with 20 points and three assists.

Illinois has a strong offensive game, scoring 87.8 points per game. They have a field goal percentage of 47.8 and make 9.8 three-pointers per game. On defense, they average 3.8 steals and 5.2 blocks per game.

Missouri Tigers Team Preview

The Missouri Tigers are having a strong season with a record of 10-2. They have been impressive at home, holding a 9-1 record. Their offense averages 86.8 points per game, ranking them 47th nationally.

In their recent games, the Tigers defeated Bethune-Cookman by 22 points, scoring 82 points with a 57.6% field goal percentage. Key players like Jacob Crews and Anthony Robinson II have shown solid performances. Crews scored 20 points against Bethune-Cookman, while Robinson II contributed 15 points and 7 assists.

The Tigers have room to improve defensively, as they allow 77 points per game. Their field goal defense struggled against Kansas, allowing 80 points. Despite this, Missouri continues to perform well as favorites, holding a 10-1 record in those games.

BTB Betting Pick

The Illinois Fighting Illini are favored by 8.5 points against the Missouri Tigers. Illinois averages 87.8 points per game, while Missouri scores 86.8 points per game. Given Illinois’ strong offensive stats and Missouri’s lower defensive numbers, Illinois is likely to cover the spread with a projected score of Illinois 90, Missouri 80.

The over/under for this game is set at 155.5. Illinois and Missouri both have high-scoring offenses, with Illinois at 87.8 points per game and Missouri at 86.8. Considering these numbers, the total is projected to exceed the line, making the over a favorable pick with a projected total score of 170 points.