Drexel vs. Illinois Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
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Nik Kowalski
Both clubs won their conference championships this past weekend, the Illini earning their first Big Ten title in 16 years and Drexel winning the Colonial Athletic Association conference as a six-seed. Tip-off Friday is 1:15 p.m. EST.
Drexel vs. Illinois NCAA Tournament Point Spread and Betting
Since the Fighting Illini are coming in nearly a -2600 favourite to win, the real number to zone in on is the 22.5-point spread. The Dragons have been a covering machine this season, going 12-4 ATS overall and 4-0 at neutral sites, which will be the case Friday at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.
Granted it was against CAA competition — no opponent near the caliber of most Big Ten teams — but the Dragons are entering the tournament shooting 29-of-51 from the arc over three tournament games. Drexel also ranked 23rd in true shooting percentage this season, but Illinois is stout on defence with a .327 three-point percentage and 68.6 points against per game.
(16) Drexel Dragons
Scoring depth got the Dragons by this season but make no mistake – when they need a bucket Camren Wynter is their go-to guy. The third-year guard averaged a team-high 16.8 points a night in 2020–21 and was one of four Dragons who had double-digit points per game. Wynter shot seven of 11 from three-point range in the CAA tournament despite scoring 38 total points.
Following Wynter in team scoring was forward James Butler, who with 12.9 points per game on a 58 per cent field goal percentage also collected 9.2 boards a night.
(1) Illinois Fighting Illini
It’s hard to name a better duo in college basketball than guard Ayo Dosunmu and center Kofi Cockburn. Dosunmu, a projected NBA first-round pick this year, lead Illinois with over 20 points a game this season and is an athletic force who can do it all — also picking up over six rebounds and five assists a night.
Cockburn dominates the paint, averaging 17.6 points a night along with 9.6 rebounds. He played right to his standard during the Illini’s Big Ten title run, averaging just under a double-double with 20 points and 9.6 rebounds during the three games, ending with a 91-88 overtime win over Ohio State.
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