NCAA March Madness Offer – Get Paid Out If Your Team Leads By 8+ Points At Half Time But Loses
12 Mar 2026Read More
Illinois vs Xavier Preview & Picks – Fighting Illini To Earn March Madness Win
- Illinois vs Xavier picks for Friday, March 21
- March Madness 1st Round game is taking place at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee
- Preview, predictions, stats & form
(Getty Images)
- Illinois vs Xavier Preview & Picks
- Head To Head
- Illinois Form
- Xavier Form
Illinois vs Xavier Preview & Picks
Illinois vs Xavier Preview & Picks
Illinois are tipped to advance to the second round of March Madness.
The Fighting Illini are a top rebounding team that can limit Xavier’s second-chance opportunities and also create plenty of second-chance opportunities for themselves.
- Illinois are 4-1-0 ATS in their last 5 games
- The Over has cashed in 7 of Illinois’ last 10 games
- The Over has hit in 11 of Xavier’s previous 14 games
Head To Head
- Xavier lead the all-time series 2-1
- Xavier won 83-74 when the two teams last met in November 2018
Illinois Form
Illinois enter the first round of the national tournament having blown hot and cold over the past several weeks.
The Fighting Illini endured a three-game losing skid late in the regular season, but were able to turn things around over their final few games on the schedule.
The got back to winning ways with an 81-61 victory over Iowa, and they then backed that up with a 93-73 success when they visited Michigan.
Illinois closed out the regular season with an 88-80 win over Purdue, and then made it four-in-a-row with a 106-94 win against Iowa in the Big Ten tournament.
The Fighting Illini fell at the next hurdle though, as they were beaten 88-65 by Maryland.
Xavier Form
Xavier put their conference disappointment behind them as they booked their place in the first round of March Madness.
The Musketeers rebounded from a road defeat at Villanova with a seven-game win streak to close out the regular season.
However, they were unable to keep that run going in the Big East tournament as they fell at the first hurdle.
Xavier had beaten Marquette during the regular season, but when the two teams met in the conference tournament it was the Golden Eagles who came out on top, winning 89-87.
The Musketeers rebounded from that swift exit in the First Four of March Madness however, beating Texas 86-80.
Verdict
There is a method to Illinois’ madness that does not always work, but we are backing it to work for them here.
Their dominance in the paint can ensure they book their place in the second round of March Madness.
Their dominance in the paint can ensure they book their place in the second round of March Madness.
Illinois -3.5
Spread
@-111.11 - 4 Units
55 Stake Cash no deposit & 550,000 Gold Coins & 5% Rakeback
Use promo code NEWBONUS
Sign up with the code NEWBONUS. When you verify your account get 25 Stake Cash for free PLUS 250,000 Gold Coins and 5% Rakeback! No deposit required. Login each day for the next 30 days and get an additional 30 Stake Cash AND 300,000 Gold Coins. 21+ only. T&Cs apply. Excludes WA, NY, NV, ID, KY, MI, VT, NJ, DE, WV, PA, RI & MD.
Over 159.5
Total Points
@-111.11 - 2 Units
55 Stake Cash no deposit & 550,000 Gold Coins & 5% Rakeback
Use promo code NEWBONUS
Sign up with the code NEWBONUS. When you verify your account get 25 Stake Cash for free PLUS 250,000 Gold Coins and 5% Rakeback! No deposit required. Login each day for the next 30 days and get an additional 30 Stake Cash AND 300,000 Gold Coins. 21+ only. T&Cs apply. Excludes WA, NY, NV, ID, KY, MI, VT, NJ, DE, WV, PA, RI & MD.
See also
- Michigan State vs Bryant Preview & Picks – Spartans To March On In March Madness
- Kentucky vs Troy Preview & Picks – Trojans To Cover As March Madness Underdog
- Duke vs Mount St Mary's Preview & Picks – Blue Devils To Issue March Madness Beatdown
- Iowa State vs Lipscomb Preview & Picks – Cyclones To Cover March Madness Spread
- Alabama vs Robert Morris Preview & Picks – Crimson Tide To Cover In March Madness Blowout
- St John's NY vs Omaha Preview & Picks – Red Storm To Power Through In March Madness
- Purdue vs High Point Preview & Picks – Boilermakers To Avoid March Madness Upset
- Auburn vs Alabama State Preview & Picks – Tigers To Miss Out On March Madness Cover
- Gonzaga vs Georgia Preview & Picks – Gonzaga To Win Battle Of Bulldogs At March Madness
- Texas Tech vs UNC Wilmington Preview & Picks – March Madness Cover For Red Raiders
- Tennessee vs Wofford Preview & Picks – Vols To Record Blowout March Madness Win
- Houston vs SIU Edwardsville Preview & Picks – Cougars To Cruise Into 2nd Round Of March Madness
Upcoming Events
05 April 2026
Mariano Navone vs Daniel Merida Tennis
Mariano Navone vs Daniel Merida Aguilar Betting Picks & Live Stream – Navone to Win Comfortably in Bucharest
Cameron Norrie vs Miomir Kecmanovic Tennis
Cameron Norrie vs Miomir Kecmanovic Betting Picks & Live Stream – Long Match on the Cards in Monte Carlo
Gael Monfils vs Tallon Griekspoor Tennis
Gael Monfils vs Tallon Griekspoor Betting Picks & Live Stream – Monfils to Set the Tone Early in Monte Carlo
Marco Trungelliti vs Rafael Jodar Tennis
Marco Trungelliti vs Rafael Jodar Betting Picks & Live Stream – Trungelliti to Challenge the Favourite in Marrakech
FA Cup Quarter-Final Picks - April 4-5 Soccer
FA Cup Quarter-Final Betting Tips & Predictions – Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham Tipped
BHM Stallions @ HOU Gamblers NFL
Birmingham Stallions at Houston Gamblers Predictions & Picks – Stallions To Remain Unbeaten In UFL
Roman Andres Burruchaga vs Tommy Paul Tennis
Roman Andres Burruchaga vs Tommy Paul Betting Picks & Live Stream – Paul to Showcase Superiority in Houston
08 April 2026
STL Battlehawks @ DAL Renegades NFL
St Louis Battlehawks at Dallas Renegades Predictions & Picks – Renegades To Retain Perfect UFL Record
10 April 2026
11 April 2026
Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov Boxing
Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov Predictions & Picks – Fury To KO Makhmudov In Comeback Fight
23 April 2026
17 May 2026
Nate Diaz vs Mike Perry UFC
Nate Diaz vs Mike Perry Predictions & Picks – Diaz To Upset Perry On Rousey-Carano Netflix Card
Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano UFC
Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano Preview & Picks – Rousey To Tap Out Carano In Netflix Super-Fight
30 June 2026
NHL 2025/26 Betting Specials Ice Hockey
NHL Daily Pick ‘Em Game – Win Cash Prizes, Trips To NHL Games & More With BET99's Free-To-Play Competition
20 September 2026
Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Manny Pacquiao 2 Boxing
Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Manny Pacquiao 2 Preview & Picks – Mayweather To Repeat 2015 Victory
31 October 2026
2026 MLB Betting Specials Baseball
MLB Baseball Offer – Money Back If Your Team Leads At Start Of 9th Innings But Loses
Poker EventsStarts in
Mariano Navone vs Daniel Merida
Cameron Norrie vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Gael Monfils vs Tallon Griekspoor
Marco Trungelliti vs Rafael Jodar
FA Cup Quarter-Final Picks - April 4-5
BHM Stallions @ HOU Gamblers
Roman Andres Burruchaga vs Tommy Paul
STL Battlehawks @ DAL Renegades
2026 March Madness Betting Specials
Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov
2026 NFL Draft
Nate Diaz vs Mike Perry
Latest News
-
Basketball Promotion -
Basketball PromotionArizona vs Michigan Offer – Get Paid Out If Your Team Blows 8+ Point Half-Time Lead In March Madness Final Four30 Mar 2026Read More
-
Wildcats WinArizona vs Michigan Predictions & Picks – Back Wildcats For March Madness Final Four Success30 Mar 2026Read More
-
Huskies AdvanceUConn vs Illinois Predictions & Picks – Huskies To Win March Madness Final Four Clash30 Mar 2026Read More
-
Duke CoverDuke vs UConn Predictions & Picks – Blue Devils To Book Final Four Berth In March Madness28 Mar 2026Read More
