The men’s Final Four tips off Saturday from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, as No. 2 UConn faces No. 3 Illinois (6:09 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV/HBO Max) in search of its third national title in four years.
In anticipation of tipoff, here are our March Madness best bets for the first national semifinal.
Illinois vs UConn Odds
All college basketball odds used for these Illinois vs UConn Final Four best bets are current as of Tuesday, March 31, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Illinois vs UConn Prediction
Illinois vs UConn Score Prediction: UConn 67, Illinois 64
Much has changed in the four months since UConn handled Illinois 74-61 in a non-conference clash at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Fighting Illini star Keaton Wagler played a season-low 14 minutes and attempted only three shots, while the Huskies’ starting lineup still featured Jaylin Stewart.
No. 3 Illinois is back in the Final Four for the first time since 2005, and it’s no fluke. The Fighting Illini (28-8) have won all four tournament games by at least 10 points, highlighted by the continued emergence of the freshman Wagler as one of college basketball’s best all-around talents.
UConn isn’t as dominant as its two most recent NCAA title teams, including the 2024 squad that overwhelmed Illinois with a 30-0 run in a 77-52 Elite Eight win. But the No. 2 Huskies (33-5) still know how to win, especially when it matters most.
Illinois vs UConn Best Bets
UConn +1.5 (-102) vs Illinois
Nobody seems to rise to the occasion better this time of year than UConn coach Dan Hurley, who is an astonishing 17-1 against the spread over his last four tournaments dating to a first-round loss to New Mexico State in 2022. That includes a 10-0 ATS record in the Sweet 16 or later, the best mark for any coach this era.
The Huskies now sit two wins from a third national title in four seasons, a feat last achieved by John Wooden’s UCLA dynasty.
- Check out the latest March Madness winner odds.
Illinois is big, deep, and talented, but the Huskies are seasoned and can lean on the likes of Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. to get the job done. If nothing else, they have a team of destiny feel after shocking Duke on Braylon Mullins’ 35-foot heave.
Back UConn as one of your best college basketball bets today.
Illinois vs UConn: Under 139.5 Points (-112)
Illinois is KenPom’s top offensive team in the country, averaging 83.8 points per game.
It has flashed that dominance at times this postseason, most notably in the second half of its Sweet 16 victory over No. 2 Houston when it shot 52.1% and scored 41 points.
- Sign up for The Game Day Newsletter to get the latest bet tips and sportsbook promos.
Despite that, the Fighting Illini have gone under the total in three straight, while UConn has cashed the under in four of its last six contests.
Look for that trend to continue here.
