The UConn Huskies and Illinois Fighting Illini will meet in a huge neutral‑site game on Friday. This Big East vs Big Ten game will be held at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City. With both teams entering this game ranked in the top 15 in the country and they will try to get an important win in this matchup. Before tip-off from New York City, I’ve got you covered with my UConn vs Illinois best bet.
Our UConn vs Illinois Pick
Pick: UConn Huskies -2.5
Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: UConn Huskies vs Illinois Fighting Illini
- Date & Time: Friday, November 28, 2025, 12:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
- Broadcast: FOX
Key Storylines
- Neutral site situation: Although this is a neutral‑site game, MSG often plays like “Storrs South” whenever UConn visits. The Huskies know how to feed off the energy of the Garden, which could give them an edge.
- Revenge narrative for Illinois: The last time these teams met, UConn delivered a 30‑0 run en route to a 77–52 blowout in the 2024 Elite Eight. That memory lingers, but Illinois is not the same squad it was then. Only a few players from that game remain, and the Illini are banking on added size and a retooled lineup to avoid a repeat.
- Health boost for UConn could matter: UConn’s depth could improve if freshman wing Braylon Mullins is available. He has been sidelined for six games due to an ankle injury but has showed encouraging signs in practice. The more healthy bodies that UConn has at its disposal, the more dangerous they are.
- Illinois’ strength on the boards vs. UConn’s efficiency: Illinois is second in the Big Ten in rebounds per game (42.7), led by standout forward David Mirkovic at 10.3 boards per contest. That kind of dominance inside will challenge UConn’s size. But UConn counters with elite offensive efficiency. They’re shooting 51.0% from the field this season and will look for another efficient performance against the Illini.
Head‑to‑Head & Betting Trends
- UConn leads the all-time series 3–1. After splitting their early meetings decades ago, the teams last met in the 2024 East Regional Final, which UConn won 77–52.
- UConn is just 1-5 against the spread so far this season.
- Illinois is 4-3 against the spread coming into this contest.
- The under has cashed in 4 of their first 6 games.
- Illinois has stayed under the total in 5 of their first 7 games.
UConn vs Illinois Model Projection
Score Projection: UConn 80 – Illinois 75
Win Probability: UConn 56%, Illinois 44%
Final Thoughts
This game between UConn and Illinois will be one of the best games on the sports calendar on Friday. I think that UConn will come away with the win in that game, as they have enough balance to be unpredictable over 40 minutes against the Illini. I’ll lay the points with UConn in what should be appointment viewing from the world’s most famous arena.
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