Illinois vs Iowa Prediction, Picks & Odds | 28 Mar 2026

NCAA Tournament Elite Eight Betting Preview: Illinois vs Iowa

Big Ten rivals No. 3 Illinois Fighting Illini and No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes will face off in this NCAA Tournament Elite Eight South Region matchup at the Toyota Center in Houston, with tip-off scheduled for 17:09 on Saturday, March 28.

To support the Over 137.5 pick, it’s worth noting the offensive efficiency on display. Illinois enters this game shooting a blistering 48.7% from the field during the tournament, while Iowa has found its rhythm from deep, hitting 38.4% of its three-pointers over the last three games.

With both teams possessing multiple scoring threats and showing a willingness to push the pace, we’re forecasting that Illinois and Iowa will produce a significant combined points total. Therefore, our prediction is to take the -112 currently available for there to be Over 137.5 points.

The Illinois Fighting Illini (27-8, 2nd in Big Ten) squad have been the most dominant team in the bracket. Illinois opened with a 105-70 rout of the Penn Quakers in the First Round, followed by a clinical 76-55 win against the VCU Rams. In the Sweet 16, the Fighting Illini showcased their defensive teeth, securing a 65-55 victory over the Houston Cougars to set up this all-Big Ten clash.

The Iowa Hawkeyes (24-12, 9th in Big Ten) enter the Elite Eight as one of the most improbable stories of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. As a No. 9 seed, they have become the first Big Ten team with that low of a seed to ever reach a regional final, securing their first trip to the Elite Eight since 1987.

The Hawkeyes journey began with a 67-61 defensive stand against the Clemson Tigers, followed by a massive Round of 32 upset where they knocked off top-seeded Florida Gators 73-72. Most recently, Iowa punched their ticket to the regional final by outlasting Big Ten rival Nebraska Cornhuskers 77-71.

Head-to-Head Statistics

Illinois held the upper hand in the most recent meeting between these programs, recording a 75-69 victory on January 11, 2026. The Illini currently carry significant momentum into this clash, having secured five straight wins over Iowa and claiming victory in 9 of the last 10 head-to-head matchups.

NCAAB Regular Season	Overall	PF	PA	N. Pts	Home	Away	Strk
Illinois	24-8	2700	2234	466	15-6	9-2	1L
Iowa	21-12	2482	2177	305	17-3	4-9	1L

View Full Standings

Illinois vs Iowa Prediction & Picks

Head into Illinois vs Iowa with expert betting insights, including our main match prediction, expected scoreline, key player prop picks and a thoughtfully built same game parlay.

Game Prediction

These teams have the firepower to go over 137.5 points in this Elite Eight matchup. We’re backing the Over and expect it to hit at -112.

Incoming team news often impacts the betting lines and odds in significant ways. Our college hoops handicappers factor this in alongside recent form, while key stats are also carefully weighed to strengthen each basketball pick.

Key Illinois vs Iowa stats:

• The 137.5 line has been covered in 15 of the last 20 Illinois games.
• The 137.5 line has been covered in 6 of the last 10 Illinois games.
• The 137.5 line has been covered in 8 of the last 10 Iowa games.
• The 137.5 line has been covered in 4 of the last 5 Iowa games.
• The 137.5 line has been covered in the last 2 Iowa games.
• The 137.5 line has been covered in the last 3 games between these teams.

Over 137.5 Probability

According to the best sportsbooks, there’s a 52.9% likelihood of our pick landing a return. Taking all factors into consideration, our experts think there’s a stronger chance of success and have a probability interval between 55-60%. It’s the reason why we are recommending this college basketball bet.

The sportsbooks allow you to shoot for bigger odds by moving the betting line on the Totals. Choose a number where you’re happy and get more juice.

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Our Game Prediction

Over 137.5 Points @ -112 Bet Now

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Disclosure: This preview contains affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. T&Cs apply. We only recommend licensed and regulated operators. See our Editorial Policy. Pick odds and lines reflect the price available at the time of publication (Mar 27, 22:02). Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Player Prop Picks

Top Pick: Tomislav Ivisic Over 9.5 Points +103

Tomislav Ivisic (Illini) can be wagered to register Over 9.5 points at +103. We have a strong conviction that he is able to cover the total when it comes to betting on Player Points.

Latest Tomislav Ivisic Player Prop Odds

Points

Over 9.5

+103

Under 9.5

-133

Rebounds

Over 5.5

-108

Under 5.5

-120

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Cooper Koch Over 9.5 Points -122

Cooper Koch (Iowa) can be wagered to rack up Over 9.5 points at -122. We are happy to back Overs when it comes to his Player Points, with the line making plenty of appeal.

Pick odds and lines correct at publication. Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. T&Cs apply. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Correct Score Prediction

Illinois 77 - 67 Iowa

There’s lots of entertainment when it comes to a correct score wager. A play on the Illini to achieve a 77-67 victory should give bettors a good run for their money.

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Illinois vs Iowa Odds

The odds and lines below are updated regularly and may differ from the prices shown in our picks, which are captured at the time of publication.

Illinois is regarded as having a 77% chance of winning this NCAA Tournament game according to the latest betting odds. The sportsbooks have priced the Illini at -333. If you’re looking for an alternative angle, Iowa is trading at +265.

There is a spread of 6.5 and total points has a line of 138.5. The Totals offers basketball fans an alternative way of getting involved. There’s an opportunity to bet Over 138.5 at -115.

Whether you are betting pre-game or in-game, you can feast on a wide range of team props and game lines at the top basketball sportsbooks. The selections are practically endless, and it’s fantastic to have so many options.

Moneyline

Illinois

-333

Iowa

+265

Point Spread

Illinois -6.5

-118

Iowa +6.5

-104

Total Points

Under 138.5

-105

Over 138.5

-115

Bennett Stirtz is the favorite to hit the most buckets. You can back -114 that he gets Over 18.5 points. Alternatively, Under is trading at the same odds.

Bennett Stirtz (Iowa)

Over 18.5

-114

Under 18.5

-114

Keaton Wagler (Illinois)

Over 16.5

-123

Under 16.5

-105

Andrej Stojakovic (Illinois)

Over 12.5

-114

Under 12.5

-114

Kylan Boswell (Illinois)

Over 11.5

-100

Under 11.5

-130

Cooper Koch (Iowa)

Over 9.5

-122

Under 9.5

-106

Tomislav Ivisic (Illinois)

Over 9.5

+103

Under 9.5

-133

Alvaro Folgueiras (Iowa)

Over 8.5

-111

Under 8.5

-116

Tavion Banks (Iowa)

Over 7.5

-132

Under 7.5

+102

Bennett Stirtz (Iowa)

Over 4.5

+110

Under 4.5

-143

Keaton Wagler (Illinois)

Over 4.5

+122

Under 4.5

-159

Tomislav Ivisic (Illinois)

Over 5.5

-108

Under 5.5

-120

Keaton Wagler (Illinois)

Over 4.5

+110

Under 4.5

-143

Andrej Stojakovic (Illinois)

Over 4.5

+128

Under 4.5

-167

Tavion Banks (Iowa)

Over 4.5

-147

Under 4.5

+113

Bennett Stirtz (Iowa)

Over 3.5

+120

Under 3.5

-156

Kylan Boswell (Illinois)

Over 3.5

-118

Under 3.5

-110

Alvaro Folgueiras (Iowa)

Over 3.5

-133

Under 3.5

+103

It’s good to consider all wagering options when it comes to college basketball and micro betting can be an exciting way to get involved in the action. When everything goes in-game, consider whether the next shot will be a Two or a Three-pointer.

Latest regular season and playoff games stats.

Illinois Stats

Iowa Stats

Moneyline

• 7 wins and 3 defeats in the last 10 games

Moneyline

• 5 wins and 5 defeats in the last 10 games

Point Spread

• -6.5 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 6 of the last 10 games

Point Spread

• +6.5 Betting Line: Have covered the spread in 8 of the last 10 games

Total Points

• Game Totals: An average of 152.00 pts in the previous 10 games
• Over 137.5: Covered in 6 of the previous 10 games
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 82.80 pts and allowed 69.20 pts in the last 10 games

Total Points

• Game Totals: An average of 142.50 pts in the previous 10 games
• Over 137.5: Covered in 8 of the previous 10 games
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 71.80 pts and allowed 70.70 pts in the last 10 games

NCAAB Regular Season Table Select Season 2025/20262024/20252023/20242022/20232021/20222020/20212019/2020

Big Ten	Overall	PF	PA	N. Pts	Home	Away	Strk
Michigan	31-3	2952	2353	599	19-2	12-1	1L
Nebraska	26-6	2473	2119	354	19-3	7-3	1L
Michigan State	25-7	2526	2189	337	17-3	8-4	2L
Purdue	27-8	2858	2455	403	16-5	11-3	4W
Illinois	24-8	2700	2234	466	15-6	9-2	1L
Wisconsin	24-10	2822	2581	241	16-2	8-8	1L
UCLA	23-11	2643	2414	229	18-3	5-8	1L
Ohio State	21-12	2633	2402	231	15-5	6-7	1L
Iowa	21-12	2482	2177	305	17-3	4-9	1L
Indiana	18-14	2501	2309	192	15-6	3-8	2L
USC	18-14	2515	2494	21	11-7	7-7	8L
Washington	16-17	2545	2430	115	11-6	5-11	1L
Minnesota	15-17	2241	2193	48	13-8	2-9	1L
Northwestern	15-19	2487	2447	40	11-9	4-10	1L
Rutgers	14-19	2329	2479	-150	11-7	3-12	1L
Oregon	12-20	2267	2366	-99	10-10	2-10	1L
Penn State	12-20	2358	2539	-181	10-10	2-10	3L
Maryland	12-21	2300	2527	-227	9-8	3-13	1L

• Overall = Overall Wins-Losses
• PF = Total Points For
• PA = Total Points Against
• N. Pts = Point Differential
• Home = Home Record
• Away = Away Record
• Strk = Current Streak

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