Houston vs Florida Preview & Picks – Florida To Win College Basketball National Championship Game
07 Apr 2025Read 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 March 2026
Arnold Palmer Invitational Golf
Arnold Palmer Invitational Preview & Picks - Best PGA Tour Golf Bets For Bay Hill
08 March 2026
09 March 2026
Jai Opetaia vs Brandon Glanton Boxing
Jai Opetaia vs Brandon Glanton Preview & Picks – Opetaia To Retain IBF Cruiserweight Crown At Zuffa Boxing 04
15 March 2026
Arnold Barboza Jr vs Kenneth Sims Jr Boxing
Arnold Barboza Jr vs Kenneth Sims Jr Live Stream – How To Watch Live Online
20 March 2026
Michael Conlan vs Kevin Walsh Boxing
Michael Conlan vs Kevin Walsh Live Stream – How To Watch Live Online
21 March 2026
George Liddard vs Tyler Denny Boxing
George Liddard vs Tyler Denny Live Stream – How To Watch Live Online
22 March 2026
Carlos Adames vs Austin Williams Boxing
Carlos Adames vs Austin Williams Live Stream – How To Watch World Title Fight Live Online
27 March 2026
2026 MLB World Series Betting Preview Baseball
2026 MLB World Series Odds – LA Dodgers Favourites For 3-Peat
28 March 2026
2026 UFL Betting Preview American Football
2026 UFL Championship Odds – Stallions Backed To Regain Spring American Football Crown
04 April 2026
23 April 2026
17 May 2026
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
Poker EventsStarts in
Arnold Palmer Invitational
Max Holloway vs Charles Oliveira 2
Jai Opetaia vs Brandon Glanton
Arnold Barboza Jr vs Kenneth Sims Jr
Michael Conlan vs Kevin Walsh
George Liddard vs Tyler Denny
Carlos Adames vs Austin Williams
2026 MLB World Series Betting Preview
2026 UFL Betting Preview
Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin
Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder
2026 NFL Draft
Latest News
-
Back Gators -
Duke CoverDuke vs Houston Preview & Picks – Blue Devils To Tame Cougars In Final Four Of March Madness04 Apr 2025Read More
-
Florida CoverAuburn vs Florida Preview & Picks – Gators To Cover In March Madness Final Four Win04 Apr 2025Read More
-
Final Four OfferDuke vs Houston - Double Winnings If Your Team Wins & Selected Player Hits Target In March Madness Final Four04 Apr 2025Read More
-
Final Four OfferAuburn vs Florida - Double Winnings If Your Team Wins & Selected Player Hits Target In March Madness Final Four04 Apr 2025Read More
