Arkansas vs. Illinois Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – NCAA Tournament Round First Round

The No. 8 seed Arkansas Razorbacks (20-13) and the No. 9 seed Illinois Fighting Illini (20-12) will meet on Thursday at 4:30 PM in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Arkansas is a 2-point favorite in the matchup, which airs on TBS. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this 8-9 matchup in the West Region bracket. The matchup has an over/under of 144.

Arkansas vs. Illinois Odds

• Arkansas odds to win: -134
• Illinois odds to win: +113
• Spread: Arkansas (-2)
• Total: 144

Arkansas vs. Illinois Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• Date: Thursday, March 16, 2023
• Time: 4:30 PM ET
• TV: TBS
• Where: Des Moines, Iowa
• Venue: Wells Fargo Arena

Who Will Win Arkansas vs. Illinois?

Arkansas and Illinois Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

Arkansas has an 11-9-2 record against the spread this season when favored by 2 points or more.

Illinois is a perfect 5-0 against the spread when an underdog by 2 points or more this season.

These teams average 149.1 points per game combined, 5.1 more than the total of 144.

Arkansas and Illinois have seen their opponents average a combined 9.6 fewer points per game than the over/under of 144 set in this outing.

The average point total in Arkansas’ games this season is 2.2 fewer points than the total of 144 in this matchup.

The average point total for the Fighting Illini this season is 2.4 points fewer than this game’s over/under.

The Razorbacks have a 15-16-2 record against the spread this season.

The Fighting Illini are 18-14-0 against the spread this year.

Arkansas Stats & Insights

Arkansas has a +232 scoring differential, topping opponents by seven points per game. It is putting up 74.4 points per game to rank 118th in college basketball and is giving up 67.4 per outing to rank 97th in college basketball.

The 32.4 rebounds per game Arkansas averages rank 138th in college basketball, and are 3.1 more than the 29.3 its opponents record per contest.

The Razorbacks knock down 5.1 three-pointers per game (347th in college basketball), while their opponents have made 5.1 on average.

Arkansas ranks 139th in college basketball by averaging 95.2 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively is 51st in college basketball, allowing 86.2 points per 100 possessions.

Offensively, the Razorbacks have played better in home games this season, averaging 76.3 points per game, compared to 68.9 per game when playing on the road.

Illinois Stats & Insights

Illinois puts up 74.7 points per game (110th in college basketball) while giving up 67 per outing (84th in college basketball). It has a +246 scoring differential and outscores opponents by 7.7 points per game.

Illinois records 35.5 rebounds per game (23rd in college basketball) while conceding 30.2 per outing to opponents. It outrebounds opponents by 5.3 boards per game.

Illinois connects on 7.7 three-pointers per game (139th in college basketball), 1.6 more than its opponents. It shoots 30.9% from deep (335th in college basketball), and its opponents are shooting 33.6%.

Illinois’ 95 points per 100 possessions on offense rank 147th in college basketball, and the 85.2 points it allows per 100 possessions rank 35th in college basketball.

The Fighting Illini are putting up more points at home (77.5 per game) than away (70).

Arkansas Key Players to Watch

Ricky Council IV leads the Razorbacks in scoring, tallying 15.9 points per game to go with 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

Makhi Mitchell leads Arkansas in rebounding, averaging 5.5 per game, while Anthony Black leads the team in assists, distributing an average of 4.2 in each contest.

Davonte Davis leads the Razorbacks in three-point shooting, making an average of 1.3 shots per game from beyond the arc.

Black is Arkansas’ leader in steals, averaging two steals per game, while Makhel Mitchell leads them in blocks with 1.7 per contest.

Illinois Key Players to Watch

Coleman Hawkins has averaged 6.3 rebounds and three assists per game, putting him atop the Fighting Illini leaderboards in those stat categories.

Terrence Shannon Jr. scores 17.1 points per game, putting him at the top of the Illinois scoring leaderboard. He also grabs 4.7 rebounds and averages 2.9 assists per game.

Matthew Mayer hits 2.1 three-pointers per game, the most on the Fighting Illini.

Illinois’ leader in steals is Shannon (1.3 per game), and its leader in blocks is Mayer (1.3 per game).

Arkansas vs. Illinois Prediction

• Pick ATS:

  Illinois (+2)
  

• Pick OU:

  Under (144)
  

• Prediction:
  Arkansas 72, Illinois 70

How to Bet on Arkansas vs. Illinois

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