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Elite 8 Showdown: Iowa vs. Illinois for a Final Four Spot
28 Mar
Summary
- Illinois is a 6.5-point favorite against Iowa in this Elite Eight matchup.
- The game is projected to have over 137.5 total points scored.
- SportsLine's model predicts the Over on total points in 68% of simulations.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament's South Region Elite Eight will witness a fierce Big Ten rivalry as the third-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini face the ninth-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes. This crucial matchup on Saturday determines who advances to the Final Four. Illinois secured their spot by defeating Houston 65-55, while Iowa triumphed over Nebraska with a 77-71 victory in their Sweet Sixteen games.
Illinois, holding a 27-8 record and tying for second in the Big Ten, enters the game as a 6.5-point favorite. Iowa, with a 24-12 record and finishing ninth in the Big Ten, has shown strong recent form with three consecutive wins. The game is scheduled for tipoff at 6:09 p.m. ET from the Toyota Center in Houston.
SportsLine's Projection Model, which simulates games 10,000 times, predicts the total points scored will exceed 137.5. The model forecasts a combined score of 151 points, with the Over hitting in 68% of simulations. Head-to-head history also favors the Over, which has occurred in four of the last six meetings between Iowa and Illinois.
