Illinois +8.5 (-110) over UConn
✔️ Sportsbook: BetMGM
✔️ Promo: Get up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets if your first bet doesn’t win
Gambling Problem? Call or TEXT 1-800-Gambler 21+ 
- Illinois has the best offense in the country according to Kenpom and they should be able to hang with UConn in this contest.
- UConn has won nine straight games in the NCAA Tournament by at least 10 points, so the fact that they aren’t favored that heavily here is very telling.
The Illinois Fighting Illini will meet the UConn Huskies on March 30, 2024, at 6:09 pm ET. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the UConn Huskies are favored by 8.5 points. Meanwhile, the total for this contest is set at 155.5 between these teams that are both gifted on the offensive end of the floor. Fans can anticipate an exciting matchup between these two powerhouse teams on the court.
For more on today's game check out the comprehensive statistics, betting odds, and trends below. Be sure to check out all our free NCAABB picks here.
Saturday’s Illinois vs UConn matchup will confirm the first team to qualify for this year’s Final Four. UConn is just three wins away from winning a second straight national title, which would put them in rarified air in college basketball history. But we have the Illinois Fighting Illini covering the spread in this matchup, which could be closer than any NCAA Tournament game that UConn has played in a long time.
While UConn is the better all-around team going into this contest, Illinois is gifted on the offensive end of the floor. They are the top-ranked offensive team in college basketball according to Kenpom. That will help them to hang around in this game, even if UConn has the firepower to match Illinois shot-for-shot in this Elite 8 matchup.
Outside of maintaining their typical offensive output, a huge key to this game for Illinois will be slowing down UConn big man Donovan Clingan. Illinois has some size in the form of Dain Dainja, but that might not be enough, even if Dainja has had a productive tournament for the Illini. How that matchup plays out could have a massive impact on the outcome of this one overall.
No matter how the big man matchup plays out here, Terrence Shannon has to avoid foul trouble for Illinois to have a chance in this Illinois vs UConn matchup as well. Illinois struggled offensively without him on the floor in the Sweet 16 against Iowa State. If Shannon is on the floor for the majority of this game, Illinois will always have a threat that they can use to get UConn out of their defensive shape. We expect that to happen and for Illinois to keep this game close.
Click here to sign up for the ATS email newsletter to get our best bets every week! Offense/Defense Defense/OffenseNCAABB
Illinois Fighting Illini
UConn Huskies
Team Stats Per Game
Advanced Game Stats
ILL Advanced Game Stats UCONN 72.4 Pace 65.7 115.0 Off.Rate 102.7 .346 FTr .427 .469 3PAr .314 .562 TS% .532 55.8 TRB% 45.3 51.9 AST% 42.3 6.0 STL% 7.3 9.1 BLK% 7.0 .523 eFG% .482 13.4 TOV% 14.8 36.0 ORB% 26.2 .263 TF/FGA .316 ILL Advanced Game Stats UCONN 72.4 Pace 65.7 102.3 Off.Rate 124.0 .268 FTr .323 .304 3PAr .449 .504 TS% .616 44.2 TRB% 54.7 45.8 AST% 68.2 8.7 STL% 8.6 8.8 BLK% 18.0 .473 eFG% .583 11.1 TOV% 12.9 26.3 ORB% 34.0 .190 TF/FGA .254 Betting Trends
ILL Betting Trends UCONN OVERALL OVERALL 3-0-0 Win/Loss/Tie 3-0-0 3-0-0 ATS W/L/P 3-0-0 82 Avg Score 82.67 67 Avg Opp Score 54 AWAY HOME 3-0-0 Win/Loss/Tie 3-0-0 3-0-0 ATS W/L/P 3-0-0 78.67 Avg Score 82.67 71 Avg Opp Score 54 ILL Betting Trends UCONN OVERALL OVERALL 5-0-0 Win/Loss/Tie 5-0-0 5-0-0 ATS W/L/P 4-1-0 87.4 Avg Score 83.2 75 Avg Opp Score 61.8 AWAY HOME 4-1-0 Win/Loss/Tie 5-0-0 4-1-0 ATS W/L/P 4-1-0 82 Avg Score 83.2 76.6 Avg Opp Score 61.8 ILL Betting Trends UCONN OVERALL OVERALL 9-1-0 Win/Loss/Tie 10-0-0 7-3-0 ATS W/L/P 9-1-0 85.4 Avg Score 82 76.7 Avg Opp Score 61.1 AWAY HOME 6-4-0 Win/Loss/Tie 10-0-0 7-3-0 ATS W/L/P 8-2-0 83.4 Avg Score 82.4 79.8 Avg Opp Score 59.9 Head to Head
Teams Last 10
