One of college basketball’s most heated neutral-site rivalries returns Monday night as the Missouri Tigers meet the Illinois Fighting Illini in the annual Bragging Rights game. The SEC–Big Ten showdown once again takes place in St. Louis, with both teams entering at pivotal points in their non-conference schedules.
Missouri enters the game with a 10–2 record and back-to-back wins, most recently an 82–60 victory over the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. The Tigers’ only losses this season came in consecutive games against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Kansas Jayhawks. This matchup serves as Missouri’s final non-conference contest before opening SEC play at home against the Florida Gators on January 3.
Illinois arrives ranked No. 18 with an 8–3 record. The Fighting Illini have not played since December 13, when they suffered a home loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Big Ten action. Illinois’ other two losses came against the Alabama Crimson Tide and the UConn Huskies. Brad Underwood’s team will wrap up non-conference play at home against the Southern Jaguars on December 29 before opening league play at the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Missouri vs. Illinois: When and Where
- Date: Monday, December 22, 2025
- Time: 7:00 PM CST
- Location: Enterprise Center — St. Louis, Missouri
Missouri vs. Illinois: Where to Watch or Stream
- TV: Fox Sports 1
- Streaming: FUBOTV
Missouri vs. Illinois: Betting Odds
- Spread: Illinois -8.5 | Missouri +8.5
- Moneyline: Illinois -500 | Missouri +375
- Total: 154.5
Missouri vs. Illinois: Series History
- All-Time Series: Illinois leads 35–20
- Last Meeting: Illinois defeated Missouri 80–77 on December 22, 2024
Projected Starting Lineups
Missouri Tigers
- #25 Mark Mitchell – 18.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG
- #35 Jacob Crews – 14.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG
- #00 Anthony Robinson II – 10.8 PPG
- #12 Sebastian Mack – 8.4 PPG
- #15 Shawn Phillips Jr. – 8.2 PPG
Also in rotation:
- #14 Jevon Porter – 6.2 PPG (10 starts)
Illinois Fighting Illini
- #4 Kylan Boswell – 16.1 PPG
- #2 Andrej Stojaković – 15.5 PPG
- #23 Keaton Wagler – 15.1 PPG
- #0 David Mirković – 13.6 PPG
- #13 Tomislav Ivišić – 10.0 PPG
Also in rotation:
- #44 Zvonimir Ivišić – 4 starts
- #15 Jake Davis – 3 starts
Game Outlook
Illinois enters with significant expectations and one of the more international-flavored rosters in the country. The Illini have scoring balance across the lineup, but questions remain about their athleticism and consistency when facing physical opponents in high-pressure environments.
Missouri embraces the spoiler role. The Tigers are deep, experienced, and coming off a rivalry loss earlier this month against Kansas, giving them added motivation to leave St. Louis with bragging rights. Expect Missouri to bring energy, toughness, and pace, especially early.
Prediction: This game stays competitive into the second half, but Illinois’ depth and shot-making give the Illini a narrow edge late in a spirited Bragging Rights battle in St. Louis.