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The No. 1 seed UConn Huskies (34-3) and No. 3 seed Illinois Fighting Illini (29-8) will play for a spot in the NCAA Tournament Final Four on Saturday at TD Garden, starting at 6:09 PM ET.
Saturday’s game between the Huskies and the Fighting Illini sees the Huskies as a strong, 8.5-point favorite. The point total for the game is set at 155.
UConn vs. Illinois Odds
Point Spread for UConn vs. Illinois
The spread for this matchup is set at 8.5 points, with oddsmakers listing UConn as the favorite.
UConn vs. Illinois Moneyline
As for the moneyline, UConn has -440 odds to pick up the win, while Illinois is listed at +340 to claim victory.
UConn vs. Illinois Over/Under
Finally, the total for the game is set at 155 points.
Game Time and How to Watch
- Game Day: Saturday, March 30, 2024
- Game Time: 6:09 PM ET
- TV Channel: TBS
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts
- Arena: TD Garden
UConn vs. Illinois Betting Trends
UConn has played 37 games, with 25 wins against the spread. The Huskies have won in 27, or 93.1%, of the 29 contests they have been named as moneyline favorites in this year. UConn’s games this year have hit the over on 17 of 36 set point totals.
Illinois has played 36 games, with 21 wins against the spread. The Fighting Illini have won 50% of the games this season they were the moneyline underdog (3-3). Illinois’ games this season have hit the over on 26 of 36 set point totals (72.2%).
UConn vs. Illinois Key Players to Watch
UConn
Tristen Newton is tops on the Huskies with 15.3 points per contest and 6.1 assists, while also putting up 6.8 rebounds. Cam Spencer averages 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. At the other end, he averages 1.5 steals and 0.2 blocked shots. Donovan Clingan paces his team in rebounds per contest (7.4), and also puts up 12.6 points and 1.6 assists. At the other end, he averages 0.5 steals and 2.4 blocked shots (10th in the nation). Alex Karaban puts up 13.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contest, shooting 49.5% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc with 2.1 made 3-pointers per contest.
Illinois
Terrence Shannon Jr. is the Fighting Illini’s top scorer (23.5 points per game), and he posts 2.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds. His scoring average ranks him third in the country. Marcus Domask is the Fighting Illini’s top assist man (4.0 per game), and he puts up 15.8 points and 5.1 rebounds. Coleman Hawkins is averaging 12.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, making 46.0% of his shots from the field and 37.9% from beyond the arc, with 1.7 treys per game. Quincy Guerrier is the Fighting Illini’s top rebounder (6.2 per game), and he contributes 9.6 points and 0.3 assists.
What you need to know about the UConn Huskies
The Huskies have been thriving both offensively and defensively this year, ranking 21st-best in the nation in points per game (81.6) and 10th-best in points allowed per game (63.6). UConn has been thriving when it comes to rebounding this year, ranking best in the nation in boards per game () and best in rebounds allowed per contest ().
So far this season, UConn is sinking 8.7 three-pointers per game (55th-ranked in college basketball) and is shooting 36.1% (58th-ranked) from beyond the arc. The Huskies are giving up 5.8 threes per game (35th-ranked in college basketball) this season, while allowing a 31.0% three-point percentage (31st-ranked).
The Huskies have a 9-1 record against the spread while finishing 10-0 overall over their past 10 games. In its past 10 games, UConn has hit the over twice. UConn has been scoring 82.0 points per contest in its last 10 appearances, an average that’s slightly higher than the 81.6 it has scored over the course of the 2023-24 season. UConn has been tougher on the defensive side of the ball as of late, allowing 61.1 points per game during its last 10 outings compared to the 63.6 points per game its opponents are averaging in the 2023-24 season.
What you need to know about the Illinois Fighting Illini
In 2023-24, the Fighting Illini are ninth-best in college basketball offensively (84.2 points scored per game) and ranked 223rd on defense (73.2 points allowed). Illinois is the best squad in the nation in rebounds per game () and best in rebounds allowed ().
Illinois is 80th in college basketball in 3-pointers made (8.4 per game) and 118th in 3-point percentage (35.1%). In 2023-24, the Fighting Illini are 66th in the country in 3-pointers conceded (6.2 per game) and 234th in defensive 3-point percentage (34.6%).
The Fighting Illini have gone 9-1 in their past 10 contests, with a 7-3 record against the spread during that span. Seven of Illinois’ past 10 outings have hit the over. While Illinois is averaging 84.2 points per game in 2023-24, it has bettered that mark in its previous 10 games, amassing 85.4 a contest. The Fighting Illini have performed worse defensively in their past 10 games, allowing 76.7 points per contest, 3.5 more points their than season average of 73.2.
UConn vs. Illinois Prediction & Pick
Our pick to win this contest is UConn, and we project that Illinois will cover the spread (UConn -8.5). Finally, we see the scoring in this one going under the posted total of 155 points.
How to bet UConn vs. Illinois
You can bet on UConn vs. Illinois at every legal online sportsbook. For more college basketball odds, including moneylines, spreads, over/under totals, check out the latest NCAA lines as well as our guide to the best college basketball betting sites.
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