Penn vs Illinois Prediction, Picks & Odds | 19 Mar 2026
College Basketball Betting Preview: Penn vs Illinois
No. 14 Penn Quakers square off against No. 3 Illinois Fighting Illini in this NCAA Tournament First Round game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, with tip-off scheduled for 20:25 on Thursday, March 19.
We like the look of Penn +25.5 at odds of -110 when they take on Illinois. We think the Quakers can put up a strong showing against the big favorites.
The Penn Quakers (18-11, 3rd in Ivy) were beaten 88-84 in overtime by the Yale Bulldogs on the road in their last game.
The Illinois Fighting Illini (24-8, 2nd in Big Ten) also lost in overtime in their last matchup, falling 91-88 at home to the Wisconsin Badgers.
| NCAAB Regular Season | Overall | PF | PA | N. Pts | Home | Away | Strk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Illinois
|
2-0 | 232 | 115 | 117 | 2-0 | 0-0 | 2W |
Penn
|
1-1 | 148 | 177 | -29 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 1W |
Penn vs Illinois Prediction & Picks
Our expert Penn vs Illinois betting tips include a main match prediction, a correct score pick, standout player prop selections and bet builder advice. Explore each section below for detailed insights.
Game Prediction
The underdogs have been given a +25.5 line on the spread. We think the Quakers can avoid a heavy defeat in this NCAA Tournament showdown and you can play Penn at -110.
The basketball picks at Sportsgambler.com are always guided by the latest team news, injury updates and overall form. Once we've reviewed that, we dive into the most relevant stats to confidently recommend every college hoops pick.
Key Penn vs Illinois stats:
Penn +25.5 Probability
According to the latest odds, our pick has a 52.4% chance of delivering a return. Based on our in-depth research, we calculate the actual probability to be 55-60%. The bet can be recommended for this precise reason.
The Winning Margin lines allow you to bet on Penn to secure a victory by a certain number of points. It’s a different wager and a viable alternative to the point spread.
Thinking of betting? Browse our detailed guide for the best current offers, including free bets and the latest bonuses.
Player Prop Picks
TJ Power (Penn) can be backed to record Over 14.5 points at -125. We think this is the pick of the prop bets that are on offer when it comes to backing him on Player Points.
Latest TJ Power Player Prop Odds
Tomislav Ivisic (Illini) can be wagered to record Under 10.5 points at -125. It’s anticipated that he might fall short of the mark and that leads us to an Unders bet.
Latest Tomislav Ivisic Player Prop Odds
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.
Same Game Parlay Pick
We’ve compiled a same game parlay that includes Penn +25.5 on the spread, along with Under 151.5 and TJ Power (Penn) to score Over 14.5 points.
Should you want to back different picks for the same game, then a same game parlay will suit your needs. The betting sites create this personalised basketball wagering tool where you can choose different selections and combine the odds together.
Correct Score Prediction
61
-
84
Illinois
There’s the chance to land huge betting odds when it comes to the Illini winning on the correct score lines. We’ll try a 84-61 victory in their favor and this should be in the right ball park.
Penn vs Illinois 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.
It’s no surprise to find the Moneyline either uncompetitive or not available with many sportsbooks. However, there is a spread where favorites Illinois and their opponents feature and bettors can work out where the value lies.
The spread is calculated to be 25.5, while total points comes in at 151.5. A Total bet is always available and can often provide value selections. There’s the chance to back Under 151.5 at -115.
College basketball bettors are spoilt for choice thanks to the huge selection of game lines and team props which are available for most matchups on the coupon. Head to the top betting apps and find the best value picks.
Keaton Wagler is the market leader to hit the most buckets. He is priced at -125 to score Over 18.5 points. Alternatively, you can back Under at -105.
You don’t have to wait for the final outcome when it comes to college basketball micro betting. Instead, there’s the opportunity to wager on live lines which tend to be settled in a shorter space of time and the in-game odds are always changing.
Latest regular season and playoff games stats.
Penn Stats
Illinois Stats
- Game Totals: An average of 145.40 pts in the previous 10 games
- Over 168.5: Covered in 2 of the previous 10 games
- Team Totals: Have scored an average of 73.50 pts and allowed 71.90 pts in the last 10 games
NCAAB Regular Season Table Select Season
| Big Ten | Overall | PF | PA | N. Pts | Home | Away | Strk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indiana
|
3-0 | 266 | 206 | 60 | 3-0 | 0-0 | 3W |
Northwestern
|
3-0 | 236 | 180 | 56 | 3-0 | 0-0 | 3W |
Minnesota
|
3-0 | 224 | 173 | 51 | 2-0 | 1-0 | 3W |
|
Illinois
|
2-0 | 232 | 115 | 117 | 2-0 | 0-0 | 2W |
Michigan State
|
2-0 | 187 | 120 | 67 | 2-0 | 0-0 | 2W |
Iowa
|
2-0 | 167 | 101 | 66 | 2-0 | 0-0 | 2W |
Rutgers
|
2-0 | 182 | 118 | 64 | 2-0 | 0-0 | 2W |
UCLA
|
2-0 | 198 | 138 | 60 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2W |
Nebraska
|
2-0 | 173 | 122 | 51 | 2-0 | 0-0 | 2W |
Oregon
|
2-0 | 185 | 140 | 45 | 2-0 | 0-0 | 2W |
USC
|
2-0 | 188 | 149 | 39 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2W |
Washington
|
2-0 | 167 | 140 | 27 | 2-0 | 0-0 | 2W |
Wisconsin
|
2-0 | 148 | 132 | 16 | 2-0 | 0-0 | 2W |
Penn State
|
2-1 | 269 | 232 | 37 | 2-0 | 0-1 | 1L |
Ohio State
|
2-1 | 256 | 233 | 23 | 2-0 | 0-1 | 2W |
Maryland
|
1-1 | 170 | 153 | 17 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 1L |
Michigan
|
1-1 | 161 | 153 | 8 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 1L |
Purdue
|
1-2 | 228 | 220 | 8 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 1W |
| Ivy League | Overall | PF | PA | N. Pts | Home | Away | Strk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harvard
|
2-0 | 136 | 92 | 44 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 1L |
Columbia
|
2-1 | 266 | 197 | 69 | 2-1 | 0-0 | 2W |
Dartmouth
|
2-1 | 247 | 190 | 57 | 1-1 | 1-0 | 1L |
Cornell
|
2-1 | 249 | 215 | 34 | 2-0 | 0-1 | 1W |
Princeton
|
2-1 | 206 | 186 | 20 | 2-0 | 0-1 | 1L |
Yale
|
1-1 | 147 | 149 | -2 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 1L |
|
Penn
|
1-1 | 148 | 177 | -29 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 1W |
Brown
|
1-2 | 187 | 186 | 1 | 0-2 | 1-0 | 1W |
- 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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