Subscribe
Follow Us
The Houston Cougars are set to face the Illinois Fighting Illini. Check out our March Madness odds series, which includes our Houston Illinois prediction, odds, and pick.
*To claim, new users need to register, make a first-time deposit, and then simply place their first real-money wager on FanDuel Sportsbook on any March Madness game during the tournament. All winning bets will be fulfilled within 72 hours if they win.*
The Illinois Fighting Illini got away with a bad performance in the NCAA Tournament. They did not play well against the Chattanooga Mocs, but they fought through their struggles and won by a point when Chattanooga missed a jump shot just before the final buzzer. Plenty of great NCAA Tournament runs have been launched by a lucky escape in the first game of the Big Dance. North Carolina State in 1983 is the classic example for March Madness odds analysts. N.C. State seemed dead in the water against Pepperdine, but the Waves missed late free throws and the Wolfpack were able to scramble to tie the score and win in double overtime. The Jim Valvano “survive and advance” mantra is closely associated with that game. After getting through that rough outing, North Carolina State steadily played better against higher-seeded opponents, carrying its run all the way to the national championship and that unforgettable ending against Houston in Albuquerque. Did Illinois — a team which has struggled in the NCAA Tournament — just get the kind of lucky-ducky win which could launch a big run? Brad Underwood has never made the Sweet 16 as a coach. Was this the kind of escape he needed to finally get his team to max out in March? It's a lot to think about when making a Houston Illinois prediction.
The Houston Cougars do not have Marcus Sasser, a player they lost for the season a few months ago due to an injury. With Sasser, Houston probably would have been a No. 3 or No. 2 seed in this tournament. Houston instead fell to No. 5 as a result of losing twice to Memphis and also to SMU. However, in the first round, Houston looked sharp against UAB. The Cougars controlled the game from start to finish and looked the part of a team ready to do some damage in the bracket. Kelvin Sampson has been to the Final Four multiple times, including last year. He clearly gets the coaching edge over Underwood in this matchup, something to keep in mind when formulating a Houston Illinois pick.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Houston-Illinois odds:
March Madness Odds: Houston-Illinois Odds
Houston: -4.5 (-110)
Illinois: +4.5 (-110)
Over: 133.5 (-110)
Under: 133.5 (-110)
*Watch College Sports LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)
Why Houston Could Cover the Spread
The Cougars are simply better than Illinois. They have the ruggedness of Chattanooga but with more skill and better coaching. They will be able to handle anything Illinois throws at them.
Why Illinois Could Cover the Spread
The Illini were granted a reprieve in the Chattanooga game. They played a bad 40-minute game and didn't lose. That kind of plot twist can liberate a team. Illinois playing at its best will easily cover the spread.
Final Houston-Illinois Prediction & Pick
Houston should be favored, but 4.5 points is quite a lot, especially since Illinois just won a game it should have lost. Illinois is an erratic team, but part of that package means the Illini play well after they play poorly. Illinois won't play two straight clunkers, enabling the Illini to at least cover the spread.
Final Houston-Illinois Pick: Illinois +4.5
