The 3rd-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini (28-8) meet the No. 2 seed Iowa State Cyclones (29-7) Thursday in a Sweet 16 matchup at TD Garden in Boston. Start time will be determined after the 2nd round is complete. Below, we look at Illinois vs. Iowa State odds'from BetMGM Sportsbook'before making our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
Iowa State won the Big 12 Tournament with a low-scoring 69-41 victory against then-No. 1 Houston, which is a 2-seed in this NCAA Tourney. The Cyclones advanced to the Sweet 16 with wins — and covers — against 15th-seeded South Dakota State (82-65 in 1st round) and 7th-seeded Washington State (67-56 in 2nd). They averaged 74.5 PPG in the 2 games, while allowing 60.5 PPG. Iowa State is 5-0 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) in its last 5 outings with the Under going 3-2.
Tenth-ranked Illinois routed a pair of double-digit seeds, pushing aside 14th-seeded Morehead State 85-69 in the opening round, and topping 11th-seeded Duquesne 89-63 Saturday. The Fighting Illini have won 6 in a row, including a 3-0 run to the Big Ten Tournament title, while going 5-1 ATS in the span. They are on a 5-0 Over run, too.
Iowa State is No. 4 in the , while as mentioned, Illinois checks in at No. 10.