The fourth and final Sweet 16 game on Thursday, as part of the NCAA Tournament, will feature the Illinois Fighting Illini and Iowa State Cyclones. This is a battle between the 3rd seed and the 2nd seed. The winner of this game, will move on to Saturday, and take on the winner of UConn/San Diego State. This game will take place in Boston.
The Illinois Fighting Illini finished as runner-up in the Big Ten Regular season. After winning the Big Ten Tournament, and now back-to-back NCAA Tournament games, they are on a six-game winning streak. Illinois is 28-8 on the season. The Illini beat Morehead State and Duquesne to get to this round.
Illinois vs Iowa State Picks
- Pick: Iowa State Cyclones -1.5
For Iowa State, they are 29-7 on the season. The Cyclones have been fantastic. They finished second in the Big 12, and won the conference tournament over Houston. Iowa State has NCAA Tournament wins over South Dakota State and also Washington State.
Let’s get to our analysis of the scores and odds to give you the best Illinois vs Iowa State betting predictions:
Illinois Fighting Illini vs Iowa State Cyclones Odds
Before we give our Sweet 16 predictions 2024, take a look at the odds to win March Madness with this game according to BetUS:
- Spread: Iowa State Cyclones -1.5, Illinois Fighting Illini +1.5
- Total: 146.5
- Moneyline: Iowa State Cyclones -120, Illinois Fighting Illini +100
Illinois Fighting Illini vs Iowa State Cyclones Information
Here is some information on one of the big games on the NCAAB schedule before our final Illinois vs Iowa State betting predictions:
Illinois Fighting Illini (28-8) vs Iowa State Cyclones (29-7)
Location of the game: TD Garden; Boston, MA
Date & Time: Thursday March 28th, 2024; 10:09 pm EST
Where to Watch: TBS
Illinois Fighting Illini vs Iowa State Cyclones Betting Preview
Fighting Illini on Fire: High-Powered Offense Leads Tournament Run
The offense of the Fighting Illini has been on fire as of late. In the Big Ten Tournament, Illinois racked up very large point totals of 77, 98, and 93. Their momentum carried into the NCAA Tournament, where they posted scores of 85 and 89 points in their games. Throughout the season, the Orange and Blue have maintained an impressive scoring average of 84.6 points per game. Additionally, they dominate the boards, ranking as one of the top rebounding teams in the nation with 37.8 rebounds per game.
Terrence Shannon Jr. leads the scoring charge for the Illini, averaging over 23 points per game. He has been playing great, with six consecutive games with 25 or more points, including an outstanding 40-point performance in the Big Ten Tournament victory over Nebraska. Marcus Domask follows as the second-highest scorer for Illinois, averaging 16.1 points, while Coleman Hawkins contributes 12.3 points per game.
Despite finishing second in the Big Ten regular season to Purdue, the Illinois Fighting Illini faced losses against Marquette and Tennessee during non-conference play. Their first Big Ten loss was on January 5th on the road against Purdue.
Iowa State Cyclones Flex Defensive Muscle
On the other hand, the Iowa State Cyclones are riding high on a five-game winning streak, during which they haven’t allowed more than 65 points in a single game. Notably, they held Kansas State to 57 points and limited Houston to just 41 in the conference tournament. In the NCAA Tournament, the Iowa State Cyclones have maintained a strong defensive stance, allowing only 60.5 points per game.
Scoring contributions for Iowa State come from various sources. In their victory over Washington State, Tamin Lipsey led the charge with 15 points, supported by Curtis Jones, who contributed 14 points off the bench. Keshon Gilbert leads the team in scoring with an average of 13.7 points per game, while Lipsey follows closely behind at 12.5 points per game.
Iowa State began November with an impressive five-game winning streak but faced losses to Virginia Tech and Texas A&M later in the month. They started Big 12 play with a road loss against Oklahoma.
Illinois Fighting Illini vs Iowa State Cyclones Betting Picks
What a game we expect this to be. The best offense in the country right now, against the best defense in College Basketball. Terrence Shannon Jr of Illinois is familiar with Iowa State from his seasons in the Big 12. What a basketball game. Look for both teams to give a great effort. In the end, the offense may win games, but the defense wins championships.
The Cyclones move one win away from heading to the NCAA Final Four, and a potential championship. We are betting the Iowa State Cyclones at -1.5 over Illinois on Thursday. Enjoy our Illinois vs Iowa State betting predictions and best of luck when you bet on Sweet 16 2024!
- Pick: Iowa State Cyclones -1.5
Discover the latest stats and trends of this matchup here.
Illinois vs Iowa State matchup
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