Defending NCAA Champs Reach Elite Eight | Illinois vs UConn | OSB
March Madness Elite Eight: (3) Illinois Fighting Illini vs. (1) Connecticut Huskies
By Sam Batz
When: Saturday, March 30th at 6:09 PM EST
Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Watch On: TBS/truTV
Matchup: Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Connecticut Huskies
March Madness continues this weekend as the tournament has now reached the Elite Eight. The madness began with 64 teams in the field, all competing for the same prize, but 56 teams have been eliminated and now only 8 remain. 2 of those 8 teams are the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Connecticut Huskies, and on Saturday Illinois and UConn will go head-to-head for a shot at the Final Four. The Huskies remain the tournament favorites, priced at +115 by Caesars Sportsbook to win the championship. Illinois is currently priced at +1700 to win the NCAA title, and +320 to beat UConn.
Needless to say, the Fighting Illini have some huge hurdles to jump, and the biggest one is standing right in front of them. An Illinois win over UConn would be a massive upset, and while it’s unlikely this is March Madness, where anything can happen. Below you’ll find all of our picks for the Illinois vs. Connecticut game, including stats, scores, and advice. We’ll help you navigate the odds and provide helpful betting tips for Saturday’s Elite Eight matchup between Illinois and Connecticut.
Illinois vs. Connecticut Odds
Team | Spread | Total (O/U) | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
Illinois Fighting Illini | +9.0 (-110) | Ov 155 (-110) | +320 |
Connecticut Huskies | -9.0 (-110) | Un 155 (-110) | -420 |
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Illinois vs. Connecticut Betting Trends
Illinois Fighting Illini
- 21-13-3 ATS
- 26-11-0 O/U record
- 4-3-0 as UNDERDOGS
- 23.9% chance to beat UConn
Connecticut Huskies
- 25-12-0 ATS
- 16-20-1 O/U record
- 34-2-0 as FAVORITES
- 76.1% chance to beat Illinois
Illinois vs. Connecticut Stat Comparison
- Elite Eight appearances: 10x (most recent: 2005)
- Points per Game: 84.2
- Opponent Points per Game: 73.2
- Rebounds per Game: 41.0
- Assists per Game: 13.5
- Turnovers per Game: 10.6
- Field Goal pct: 47.5%
- Three-point pct: 35.1%
- Free Throw pct: 73.6%
- Top Players: Terrence Shannon Jr. (23.5 pts); Marcus Domask (15.8 pts); Quincy Guerrier (6.2 reb)
- Elite Eight appearances: 13x (most recent: 2023)
- Points per Game: 81.6
- Opponent Points per Game: 63.6
- Rebounds per Game: 38.8
- Assists per Game: 18.6
- Turnovers per Game: 9.8
- Field Goal pct: 49.7%
- Three-Point pct: 36.2%
- Free Throw pct: 74.2%
- Top Players: Tristen Newton (15.3 pts); Cam Spencer (14.5 pts); Donovan Clingan (7.4 reb)
Illinois vs. Connecticut Game Predictions
I love a good upset and with my bracket busted I’ll be rooting for the underdogs from here on out, but that’s a terrible way to approach sports betting. Never bet with your heart, and while an Illinois victory would be an incredible story, I’m going with the UConn Huskies on Saturday. UConn is the most well-rounded team of the tournament, and with the way the Huskies are playing I’m not sure there’s anyone who can beat them.
During March Madness UConn is averaging 82.7 points per game, but what’s more impressive is the Huskies have yet to allow more than 60 opponent points, giving up just 54 points per game. UConn has a +28.7 point differential, and while Illinois’ offense is firing on all cylinders (82.0 points per game), the Huskies defense is unbreakable.
In summary, here are my picks for Illinois vs. Connecticut Elite Eight matchup:
- Moneyline Pick: Connecticut Huskies (-420)
If you take Connecticut’s Moneyline (-420): You risk $420 to win $100, for a total payout of $520, if Connecticut wins straight up.
- ATS Pick: Illinois Fighting Illini (+9.0)
If you take Illinois to Cover the +9.0 Spread (-110): You risk $110 to win $100, for a total payout of $210, if Illinoius wins the game, or loses by less than 9 points.
- O/U Pick: Under (155.0)
If you take the Under on 155 total points (-110): You risk $110 to win $100, for a total payout of $210, if Illinois and Connecticut combine for less than 155 points.
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