March Madness Team Betting Preview: Illinois Fighting Illini

Mar 15, 2021 - 4:47 AM

Betting Preview: Illinois Fighting Illini

• Record: 23-6 overall, 16-4 Big Ten Conference
• ATS: 18-9-1
• O/U: 15-12-1
• Points Scored/Game: 81.1 (12th overall)
• Points Allowed/Game: 68.6 (111th overall)
• Outright Odds: +650 (BettingPros Consensus)

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Team Strengths

Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn offer the best inside-out duo in the nation. Those two alone make up the heart and soul of this team, providing elite offense and defense. The Illini are an all-around team, ranking 7th in offensive efficiency and 5th in defensive efficiency. Only four teams rank in the top-20 both offensively and defensively, a solid recipe for tournament success.  

The Fighting Illini are riding a seven-game win streak and have won 14 of their last 15 games. Brad Underwood’s squad has the third overall strength of schedule, so they have seen it all this season. Ayo can sometimes score at will, and when he misses, Cockburn is right there to clean up on the boards. This team rebounds at an elite clip and has some solid role players coming off the bench.

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Team Weaknesses

Sometimes U of I lets the game’s speed get to them and become lazy in the second half, letting teams like Indiana and Nebraska stick around before they beat them in overtime. Illinois is physical, so sometimes they face foul trouble, and without Kofi on the floor, the team absolutely takes a step back. 

Illinois also doesn’t force too many turnovers, so while their defense is solid, they still allow teams a look each possession. Sometimes the Fighting Illini can be a little dependant on Ayo and go on scoring droughts as well, but that doesn’t happen all too often.

Why They’ll Win it All

Illinois was my pre-season pick to win it all, so it would be nice for them to follow through on my prediction. Of course, that isn’t a reason for them to win it all, but this team really is locked and loaded for a tournament run. They boast a dynamic offense and top-five defense, which means it will be tough for any team to upset them. Momentum is, without a doubt, on the side of the Illini, and they can roll their way right to a championship. They convert missed shots into second-chance points and have consecutively been a top-5 team.  

Why They Won’t Win it All

It doesn’t appear that Illinois exactly has kryptonite, but they are susceptible to a letdown game. If a team focuses on shutting down Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn, I don’t know who can step up for the Illini and takeover beyond being a contribution as a role player. 

Illinois is in the toughest region in the tournament. In my opinion, the fact that they have to face off against Loyola Chicago or Georgia Tech in the second round is already tough. Beyond that, Oklahoma State and Tennessee are formidable contenders. And then presumably Houston or West Virginia wait for them to even get to the Final Four. It is a tough journey for Illinois, so dropping to any of the aforementioned teams is reasonable. 

Illinois Fighting Illini March Madness Prediction

Despite a tough road, I expect Illinois to be up for the challenge. They have a wide range of outcomes this tournament, but my official prediction is for them to fall to Gonzaga in the championship game.

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Ryan Coleman is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Ryan, check out his archive.

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