<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3VhRo1_1Gp8dhp600" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3VhRo1_1Gp8dhp600" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images</figcaption></figure><p>Fueled by a strong returning core and the bitter memory of their first-round NCAA Tournament exit, the veteran-led Penn Quakers open their season looking for revenge against No. 3 Illinois. Tipoff on Thursday is at 8:30 p.m. ET at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill., broadcast nationally on FS1.</p><p>Penn (0-0) returns four starters and seven of the top nine scorers from a team that secured the program's first NCAA Tournament berth since 2018. The offense flows through unanimous First Team All-Ivy selection T.J. Power. The senior forward averaged 16.4 points and 7.6 rebounds last season, ending his conference slate with a 44-point, 14-rebound MVP performance in the Ivy Madness title game. </p><p>However, the Illinois defense erased him last March, holding him to just six points in 30 minutes during a 105-70 first-round tournament defeat. Power will need strong support from returning guards Michael Zanoni (11.6 PPG) and AJ Levine to keep the Quakers competitive in a hostile Big Ten arena.</p><p>No. 3 Illinois (1-0) reached the Final Four last spring and opened their season on Monday with a 120-45 demolition of Fairleigh Dickinson, draining a school-record 19 three-pointers.</p><p>Despite the blowout, head coach Brad Underwood's roster is navigating a wave of unexpected injuries. Preseason All-American David Mirkovic, who posted 29 points and 17 rebounds against Penn in March, is sidelined indefinitely following an emergency appendectomy and a foot injury, while senior sharpshooter Jake Davis requires shoulder surgery after going down just six minutes into Monday's opener.</p><p>To fill the frontcourt, Illinois will lean on former sixth man Andrej Stojakovic and Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks, who both poured in 20 points against FDU. The Illini also boast a pair of highly touted freshmen guards, Quentin Coleman and Ethan Brown, who both flirted with triple-doubles in their collegiate debuts without committing a turnover.</p><ul><li>Penn -12.5 (52%)</li><li>Illinois +12.5 (53%)</li></ul><p><b>Money Line</b></p><ul><li>Penn 90%</li><li>Illinois 13%</li></ul><p><b>Total</b></p><ul><li>Over 159.5 (54%)</li><li>Under 159.5 (53%)</li></ul><p><i>Note: The above data was compiled from prediction market platforms on Nov. 5, 2026, and may have changed since writing.</i></p><h2>Penn vs. Illinois Betting Trends</h2><ul><li>Penn went 6-1 against the spread in their last seven road games last season.</li><li>Illinois is 5-1 against the spread in their last six matchups overall.</li><li>The under hit in 19 of Penn's past 25 contests.</li><li>The total has gone under in four of the last five Illinois games.</li><li>Penn is 2-16 against Big Ten opponents since 2000.</li><li>Illinois leads the all-time series against Penn 7-0, most recently a 105-70 win in last year's NCAA Tournament.</li></ul><h2>Penn vs. Illinois Injury Reports</h2><p><b>Penn</b></p><ul><li>Ryan Altman, G/F — Questionable</li></ul><p><b>Illinois</b></p><ul><li>David Mirkovic, F — Out (foot, appendectomy).:</li><li>Jake Davis, F — Out (shoulder).</li></ul><h2>Penn vs. Illinois Predictions and Picks</h2><p>The Quakers are a disciplined, experienced team returning four starters from an NCAA Tournament roster. Illinois is playing without preseason All-American big man Mirkovic, who logged 29 points and 17 rebounds in the March matchup to dominate the interior. Without his presence, Power should find significantly more room to work. </p><p>McCaffery knows his team cannot get into a track meet with the third-ranked team in the country, so expect the Quakers to rely on veteran ball-handlers to slow the pace, run deep into the shot clock, and limit the amount of transition opportunities for the Illini's young guards. Although Illinois' freshmen looked spectacular on Monday, asking them to cover a 30.5-point spread against a veteran Ivy League backcourt is a risky proposition. Back the Quakers to control the tempo just enough to keep this game inside the massive spread and under the total.</p></div></body>

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Fueled by a strong returning core and the bitter memory of their first-round NCAA Tournament exit, the veteran-led Penn Quakers open their season looking for revenge against No. 3 Illinois. Tipoff on Thursday is at 8:30 p.m. ET at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill., broadcast nationally on FS1.

Penn vs. No. 3 Illinois Odds and Predictions

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Fueled by a strong returning core and the bitter memory of their first-round NCAA Tournament exit, the veteran-led Penn Quakers open their season looking f

Penn vs. No. 3 Illinois Odds and Predictions

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