Our NCAA Tournament Picks for the first round carry on with Arkansas set to face Illinois on Thursday, Mar. 16. The game is scheduled for 4:30 pm ET while airing on TBS. Arkansas enters this game as 2.5-point favorites with the total set at 144.5. How will this one play out? Let’s dive into the Arkansas vs. Illinois predictions below.
Arkansas vs. Illinois Odds
- Spread: Arkansas -2.5
- Total: 144.5
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook. New to DK? Check out our DraftKings Sportsbook Review to find out how to bet $5 to get $200 in bonus bets!
Game Info
- Date: Thursday, Mar. 16
- Time: 4:30 pm ET
- Location: Wells Fargo Arena (IA), Des Moines, IA
- TV: TBS
- Stream: March Madness Live
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Arkansas Betting Trends
- Razorbacks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
- Razorbacks are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
- Over is 5-2 in Razorbacks last 7 overall.
Illinois Betting Trends
- Fighting Illini are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 neutral site games.
- Fighting Illini are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Fighting Illini last 5 neutral site games.
Arkansas vs. Illinois Predictions
This could be the closest game of the first round. There are a few that feel almost impossible to pick, and this is one of them. For what it’s worth, I prefer Arkansas, although I do feel Illinois is a tough matchup for them.
This is a bit of an odd game overall. I prefer both defenses compared to the offenses, but this is a great spot for both offenses. Both teams struggle with fouls defensively, but they can both draw fouls on offense.
These fouls are going to give both teams free points. The clock won’t be running, and they’ll have as good of opportunities at the basket as possible. The only issue is that both teams have struggled a bit with free throws throughout the season.
These are two teams that rely heavily on scoring inside the arc. Luckily, both defenses force their opponents off of the line, allowing them to attack the rim. It’s one of the reasons they struggle with fouls.
Overall, both teams are going to get plenty of looks at the basket and at the line in this game. The total feels a bit low, as both teams could push the pace a bit as well.
The Pick: Illinois/Arkansas Over 143.5 | -110 on DraftKings Sportsbook
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