Illinois Fighting Illini vs UConn Huskies Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 03/30/2024

Game Time: 6:09 pm ET, Saturday, March 30, 2024

Venue:  TD Garden, Boston, MA 

Where to Watch:  TBS, MAX

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Illinois +8.5, UConn -8.5; Over/Under:  155.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Illinois +8.5, UConn -8.5; Over/Under:  155.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Illinois +8.5, UConn -8.5; Over/Under:  155.5 points

Illinois Fighting Illini:  29-8 (14-6) (2nd place, Big Ten)

UConn Huskies:  34-3 (18-2) (1st place, Big East)

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Illinois Fighting Illini:  5-0  last 5

UConn Huskies:  5-0  last 5

Illinois is entering this game with a 29-8 record overall, a 14-6 record in conference games, and they are 8-0 in their neutral site games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a win against the Iowa State Cyclones in their last game. Terrence Shannon Jr. led the team in points per game in that game with 29 while Coleman Hawkins was next on the team with 12. Marcus Domask led the team in assists with 5 in that game while Marcus Domask, Coleman Hawkins, Ty Rodgers, and Dain Dainja each led the team in rebounds with 6. They were 42.1% from the field, 31% from 3-point range, and 51.7% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 84.2 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 73.2 PPG against them. Illinois has an ATS record of 21-13-3 this season and their O/U record is 26-11.

UConn is entering this game with a 34-3 record overall, an 18-2 conference record, and they are 9-0 in their neutral site games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a win against the San Diego State Aztecs in their last game. Cam Spencer led the team in points in that game with 18 while Tristen Newton was next on the team with 17. Tristen Newton and Hassan Diarra each led the team in assists with 4 in that game while Stephon Castle led the team in rebounds with 11. They were 46.2% from the field, 38.5% from 3-point range, and 75% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 81.6 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 63.6 PPG against them. UConn has an ATS record of 25-12 this season and their O/U record is 16-20-1.

The current betting odds have UConn listed as an 8.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. UConn has looked really good in their games this season with their 34-3 record overall which has them ranked inside the top 25 teams in the country and also ranked as the best in the nation. They have looked great in the Big East all year with their 18-2 conference record which had them at the top of their conference and they have also looked great in their neutral site games with their 9-0 record in those. Meanwhile, Illinois has also looked really good in their games this season with their 29-8 record overall which also has them ranked inside the top 25 teams in the country. They have looked great in the Big Ten this year with their 14-6 conference record which had them right near the top and they also won their conference tournament so they have been hot lately. They have also looked great in their neutral site games with their 8-0 record in those, but they haven't faced a team like UConn yet. Just like Illinois won theirs, UConn won their conference tournament and have been one of the hottest teams in the country. They are the defending champions of this tournament and they have the experience from the run they made last year. Illinois is coming off a really nice win against Iowa State in the last round, but Iowa State doesn't have the offense that UConn has and UConn even has a better defense that Illinois will struggle against. UConn is on a mission to be back-to-back champions of this tournament and no team has even kept it close with them lately. The best way to place a bet here is on UConn to cover the spread in this game. 

Illinois UConn Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Saturday, March 30, 2024 (6:09 pm ET start time) is UConn 81 Illinois 66.

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Illinois Fighting Illini: 22-13 ATS in all games. 12-6 ATS as an underdog. 21-9 ATS after 5 straight games forcing opponents to commit 14 or less turnovers. 26-11 OVER in all games. 14-4 OVER when the total is 150 to 159.5. 17-6 OVER after a game where they covered the spread.

UConn Huskies: 2-6 ATS after 3 straight covers as a favorite of 7 or more. 3-6 ATS after scoring 75 points or more in 3 straight games. 9-2 OVER after allowing 60 points or less in 4 straight games. 11-6 OVER after 4 straight wins by 10 points or more.

Illinois Fighting Illini:  M. Williams (G) Out indefinitely - Undisclosed.

UConn Huskies:  None.

“When you face the No. 1 defense, you know they’re not No. 1 because they’re soft or they lack effort. I also knew they’d come out and punch or counterpunch, and they did that.” - Brad Underwood after his team’s win against ISU in their last game in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.

“We suck at winning close games. You've got to go with the alternative.” - Dan Hurley after his team’s win against SDSU in their last game in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.

M. Domask 

Q. Guerrier 

C. Hawkins 

T. Rodgers 

T. Shannon

S. Castle 

D. Clingan 

A. Karaban 

T. Newton 

C. Spencer

PPG: T. Shannon Jr. (21.6)

APG: M. Domask (3.5)

Reb/G: Q. Guerrier (6.7)

PPG: T. Newton (15)

APG: T. Newton (5.8)

Reb/G: T. Newton (7.1)

Coaches:

Illinois Fighting Illini: Brad Underwood (7th season)

UConn Huskies: Dan Hurley (6th season)