Kentucky Wildcats vs Illinois Prediction & Picks - NCAA Basketball
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by Matt Lowrimore in NCAA Basketball Picks
Another one of the second-round games scheduled to be played on Sunday will see the 6th-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini take on the 3rd-seeded Kentucky Wildcats in the Midwest Region. Let’s take a look at the important match statistics and predictions for this second-round game between the Fighting Illini and the Wildcats.
Illinois enters this game with a record of 22-12. The Fighting Illini beat the Xavier Musketeers in the first round on Friday by a score of 86-73. Illinois was very balanced in this game with four of their five starters scoring at least 15 points or more. Additionally, the Fighting Illini shot 48.3% from the field and 40% from the three-point line.
As for Kentucky, they enter this game with a record of 23-11. The Wildcats beat Troy in the first round on Friday by a score of 76-57. Kentucky had four players score at least 13 points or more, led by Otega Oweh, who posted a 20-point game. The Wildcats were extremely efficient from the field, shooting 47.5% from the field and 38.5% from the three-point line.
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Kentucky Wildcats vs Illinois Form
Kentucky Wildcats and Illinois Latest Matches
1/1 (100%)
0/1 (0%)
Mar 21, 2025 - NCAA Basketball
1/1 (100%)
0/1 (0%)
Mar 21, 2025 - NCAA Basketball
4/5 (80%)
1/5 (20%)
Mar 21, 2025 - NCAA Basketball
Mar 30, 2024 - NCAA Basketball
Mar 28, 2024 - NCAA Basketball
Mar 23, 2024 - NCAA Basketball
Mar 21, 2024 - NCAA Basketball
3/3 (100%)
0/3 (0%)
Mar 21, 2025 - NCAA Basketball
Mar 23, 2024 - NCAA Basketball
Mar 21, 2024 - NCAA Basketball
1/2 (50%)
1/2 (50%)
Mar 30, 2024 - NCAA Basketball
Mar 28, 2024 - NCAA Basketball
Kentucky Wildcats - Illinois Key Points
- The Under is 2-0 in Illinois' last 2 games
- The Under is 2-0 in Kentucky's last 2 games
- The total has gone under 170.5 in 4 of Illinois' last 5 games
- The total has gone under 170.5 in Kentucky's last 3 games
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Our Kentucky Wildcats vs Illinois Prediction
With this game essentially being a pick ‘em, we will target the total instead. More specifically, the under as the total is set extremely high. It should be said that both Illinois and Kentucky have top-10 scoring offenses in the country. The Wildcats are averaging 85 points per game (6th in the country), while the Fighting Illini are averaging 83.9 points per game (9th in the country).
Defensively, Kentucky and Illinois have not nearly been as good. Kentucky is allowing 77.3 points per game, while Illinois is allowing 74.6 points per game. That said, with a berth to the Sweet 16 on the line, we expect there to be enough defense in this game to keep the total points scored at a respectable number.
Based on the fact that the total has gone under in the last few games for both teams, our Illinois Fighting Illini vs Kentucky Wildcats prediction is under 170.5.All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
