Saturday’s NCAA Tournament semifinal tips off with one of the most compelling matchups of the entire tournament, as the No. 2 UConn Huskies and No. 3 Illinois Fighting Illini meet in Indianapolis with a trip to the national championship game on the line. For UConn, a win would mean a third title appearance in four years. For Illinois, it would be the program’s first victory at this stage since 2005.
Below is a breakdown of the matchup, current odds, and how players are betting it at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook.
No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3 Illinois
These two teams have already settled the score once this season: UConn handled Illinois 74-61 at Madison Square Garden back in November, leaning on sharp shooting and suffocating defense to pull away from a Fighting Illini team that was ranked 13th in the nation at the time.
The Huskies arrive in Indianapolis for the rematch after crawling back from 19 down to stun No. 1 overall seed Duke on a Braylon Mullins buzzer-beater three in Washington DC. Illinois, meanwhile, has made its case on the defensive end in its last two games, holding Houston to 55 points in an upset victory before limiting Iowa to just seven made 2-point field goals to advance to the semifinal.
UConn vs. Illinois Game Info
- đź“Ť Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
- đź“… Date: Saturday, April 4
- ⏰ Start Time: 6:09 PM ET
- đź“ş TV/Streaming: TBS, truTV, HBO MAX
UConn vs. Illinois Current Odds at Hard Rock Bet
Illinois is currently a 1.5-point favorite, with the total set at 139.5:
- Moneyline: Illinois (-130), UConn (+105)
- Point Spread: Illinois -1.5 (-115), UConn +1.5 (-105)
- Total: 139.5 (-110)
Odds are subject to change.
UConn vs. Illinois Betting Splits
- Despite Illinois being favored, UConn is the overwhelming choice on the moneyline at Hard Rock Bet: 69.3% of tickets are on the Huskies, with only 30.7% on the Illini.
- The spread is a different story. UConn holds a 54.2% edge in total tickets.
- Bettors are heavily leaning toward the over, as its garnered 70.6% of all tickets compared to just 29.4% on the under.
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