Illinois
Rutgers at Illinois odds, picks and predictions
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (10-7, 2-4 Big Ten) visit the No. 14 Illinois Fighting Illini (13-4, 4-2) Sunday. Tip-off from State Farm Center is set for 1 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Rutgers vs. Illinois odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
Rutgers won 87-82 in OT vs. the Nebraska Cornhuskers Wednesday while covering as a 3-point home favorite. Rutgers, which allows only 65.4 points per game, has allowed 80-plus points in 2 of its last 4 games. The Scarlet Knights have won back-to-back home games, but are 0-3 in their last 3 true road games.
Illinois, which is No. 14 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, picked up an 88-73 win over the Michigan Wolverines Thursday while covering as a 2.5-point road favorite. Illinois continues to be a top team in the nation offensively, averaging 82.1 PPG. The Fighting Illini have won 3 of the last 5.
Illinois beat Rutgers 76-58 on Dec. 2 at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
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Rutgers at Illinois odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:08 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rutgers +590 (bet $100 to win $590) | Illinois -900 (bet $900 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Rutgers +12.5 (-110) | Illinois -12.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 145.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Rutgers at Illinois picks and predictions
Prediction
Illinois 78, Rutgers 65
Moneyline
PASS.
Illinois (-900) will pick up the win here, but is not worth betting on as such a heavy favorite. Bet on the spread and/or total instead.
Against the spread
LEAN ILLINOIS -12.5 (-110).
Illinois has covered ATS in back-to-back matchups vs. Rutgers and is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 meetings with the Scarlet Knights. Illinois is also 7-1-2 ATS in its last 10 overall and is the much better ATS team this year. being 10-5-2 while Rutgers is 8-9.
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Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 145.5 (-110).
The Under has hit in 2 of Rutgers’ last 3 games and has been the much safer play for the Scarlet Knights this year (12-5). The Under has also hit in 3 consecutive meetings between these squads.
I like this Illinois defense to hold this weak Rutgers offensive team to less than 70 points, which makes this game very likely to hit the Under. But it is only a lean because the Over has been safer for the Fighting Illini recently and overall this year (9-7-1).
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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Illinois
Joliet City Council approves plans for Illinois’ largest data center
The Joliet City Council on Thursday approved plans for a 795-acre data center, which would be the largest such facility in Illinois.
The proposed site would go in a rural field right next to the Chicagoland Speedway at the intersection of Rowell and Bernhard roads. That’s where 24 buildings housing the equipment would be built. The developer, HW Technology Park Development LLC, said the project would be up and running in 2030.
“This annexation agreement sets clear expectations for infrastructure, services, and community benefits while helping ensure the project moves forward in a responsible way,” Joliet City Manager Beth Beatty said in a statement. “It also delivers substantial new revenue for local taxing bodies and longterm financial benefits for the community.”
At a public hearing on the data center on Monday, Joliet officials listened to several hours of comments from the public, mostly from people opposed to the data center over concerns about its impact on health and utility bills.
“I just want to make sure that when we make decisions that are huge like this, that we have all the information,” said Sean Richards, who lives in neighboring Lockport and believes the new data center would have broader impacts and health risks for kids. “The people in here that are voting yes or no, I did not elect them, but yet they are making decisions that will directly affect people in Lockport, and New Lenox, and in Elwood and other municipalities.”
ComEd officials said the energy needed to keep the center operating would not raise electric bills for residents or businesses. The developer said no water would be needed to cool the facility, only to get it up and running. They also said it could bring Joliet $2 billion in tax revenue.
Joliet officials estimated the project would create 7,000 to 10,000 construction jobs and 700 permanent jobs. The developer also has pledged $100 million to improve sidewalks, streets, and other city services in Joliet.
Illinois
Keaton Wagler NBA mock draft projection: Where Illinois star is expected to land
March Madness is underway and today’s college stars have a chance to cement themselves in this summer’s NBA draft class. The 2026 draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY’s latest mock draft, Illinois’ Keaton Wagler is expected to go in the first round.
Here’s how USA TODAY currently projects the guard’s draft night will play out.
Keaton Wagler 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 7 overall, Atlanta Hawks
All picks based on Tankathon lottery projection
Kalbrosky’s Analysis:
After trading away Trae Young, the Hawks could find their point guard of the future in Illinois standout Keaton Wagler using a first-round pick they received from the Pelicans. The 19-year-old guard scored 46 points while shooting 9-of-11 on 3-pointers against No. 12 Purdue on Jan. 24. He projects as one of the best 3-point shooters in this class, shooting 41.0 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman this year. The Big Ten Rookie of the Year is a cerebral basketball player who is also averaging 4.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this season.
See USA TODAY’s full mock draft here
Keaton Wagler player profile
(all stats as of March 15)
- Position: Guard
- Current Team: Illinois
- 17.9 points per game
- 4.8 rebounds per game
- 4.4 assists per game
- 44.6% field goal percentage
- 40.2% three-point field goal percentage
Atlanta Hawks 2026 projected draft picks
- No. 7 (via NOP), No. 22 (via CLE) and No. 57 (via BOS)
All picks based on Tankathon lottery projection
Illinois
Student helps submit IL legislation that would require male, female CPR training in high schools
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WLS) — A high school student says she’s determined to change the status quo when it comes to CPR training.
She is working with state lawmakers to have female manikins used during the training.
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Ashlynn Goldstein, 18, wants to take something that’s rare and make it the norm.
“I think we need to break that barrier. I think we need to be OK with change,” said Goldstein, a Naperville Central High School senior.
What started as a project for class became an opportunity to save the lives of girls and women.
Goldstein was researching gender disparity in medicine when she realized there was lack of manikins that were female.
“There was a study I saw where it said only 5% of the manikins that were sold on the market were female,” Goldstein said.
SEE ALSO: Video shows sheriff’s deputy save man’s life after I-90 crash in Chicago
According to the American Heart Association, women are 27% less likely to receive bystander CPR than men because of hesitancy to follow protocol, fueled by fears of inappropriate touching, exposing the chest or drawing accusations of sexual assault.
“I believe that they were scared to explore and change what they were doing. They were scared it wouldn’t work,” Goldstein said.
So she created the change herself. Working with the school and state representatives, she put forth a bill that would require both male and female manikins to be used in CPR training in high schools across Illinois.
“I really try to impress on teenagers is they have immense power that they can wield at any time,” teacher Seth Brady said.
“Wouldn’t it be great if we were all trained to save a life no matter the sex, right?” said Shelly Amato, with WorldPoint.
Goldstein’s work caught the attention of WorldPoint, a medical supply store based in Crystal Lake that donated eight new manikins to the school.
“We’re really adamant that no, the male, female needs to be standard with every manikin,” Amato said. “We saw a need, and we wanted to meet it.”
The company offers female and male manikins as a package deal, sending a clear message to those like Goldstein that change is coming.
“Anyone can do CPR on a female,” Goldstein said.
The bill is currently up for discussion in the Education Policy Committee with the hope it will become law.
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