The Illinois Fighting Illini (5-2) and Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-3) face off Friday night in the Big Ten opener for both teams. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. 

The Illini are eight-point favorites in the latest Rutgers vs. Illinois college basketball odds, while the Over-Under is set at 134. Before you make any Rutgers vs. Illinois picks, you NEED to check out the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model. 

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of almost $2,100 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen HUGE returns.

The model has factored in that Illinois center Kofi Cockburn is a major matchup problem for any team. The 7-footer is averaging 26.8 points and 9.6 rebounds in the four games since serving a three-game suspension to start the season. Rutgers has no one who can match his physicality, and the Scarlet Knights' shooting has been a major issue. They ranks 297th in field-goal percentage (40.7) while the Illini hold teams to 40.3 percent (105th).    

The simulations also have considered that Rutgers has strong leadership in senior Ron Harper. The forward leads the team with 16.1 points and nine rebounds per game, and he scored 23 in a 74-64 win against Clemson on Tuesday. Center Cliff Omoruyi averages 12 points and 7.9 rebounds, while Paul Mulcahy scores 7.3 points and chips in 5.3 rebounds and a team-high 4.1 assists. Guard Caleb McConnell scored 16 points in Tuesday's win.  

The model has scrutinized Friday's Rutgers vs. Illinois matchup from every angle and revealed its selections. We can tell you the model is leaning Over the total, and it also says one side of the spread has all the value! You ABSOLUTELY need to see it before locking in any college basketball picks.

Who wins the Rutgers vs. Illinois matchup on Friday? And which side of the spread has all the value? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the Illinois vs. Rutgers spread you should be all over Friday, all from the model on a roll on college basketball picks!