Chattanooga vs. Illinois Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
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Jeremy Perry
The Illinois Fighting Illini aim to rebound from a dismal stretch run when they open their March Madness schedule on Friday afternoon against the 13th-seeded UT-Chattanooga Mocs. Illinois closed out their schedule atop the conference standings for the first time since 2005, but made a speedy exit from the Big Ten Tournament with a 65-63 loss to Indiana that marked their fourth defeat in nine outings. The Mocs return to the Big Dance for the first time since 2016 after claiming both the Southern Conference regular season and tournament titles, but has failed to earn a win in three March Madness appearances since 1997.
The Fighting Illini’s late-season swoon has not dramatically impacted them at the sportsbooks, where they sit perched as 7.5-point favourites. However, it is the Mocs who have commanded 72% of the betting action ahead of Friday’s contest. In addition, the total has held steady at 135.5.
Chattanooga Mocs vs. Illinois Fighting Illini NCAA Tournament Point Spread and Betting
Friday evening’s matchup at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh is scheduled for 6:50pm ET, and marks just the third all-time meeting between these squads. The Mocs earned the win in each of their two previous dates with Illinois, each as betting underdogs, capped by an 81-77 victory as 5-point road chalk back in November 2015.
The Mocs look to be peaking right on time. Chattanooga enters the tournament on a five-game win streak, and has suffered consecutive defeats on just one occasions while going 18-4 since mid-December. However, this squad has enjoyed no success against nationally ranked opponents, losing outright in 30 contests since defeating Illinois 75-63 as 10-point underdogs in the Second Round of the 1997 NCAA Tournament.
In addition to their recent middling results on the scoreboard, the Fighting Illini has struggled to reward loyal sports bettors, covering in just two of their past nine contests. Illinois have also disappointed as big chalk, going winless in their past three while favored by seven or more points. That disappointing trend extends to their recent appearances at March Madness, where they have lost six of their nine contests, all as betting favourites.
Chattanooga Mocs (13)
The Mocs punched their ticket to the Big Dance in thrilling fashion, with David Jean-Baptiste hitting a game-winning three-pointer as time expired to seal a 64-63 win over Furman, and cap a sensational season in Chattanooga. In addition to ranking second on the team in scoring, Jean-Baptiste fellow senior Silvio de Sousa have played key leadership roles on this squad. De Sousa also led all Mocs shooters in Sunday’s with 17 points and 14 boards for his sixth double-double of the campaign.
Illinois Fighting Illini (4)
The Fighting Illini are currently pegged at No. 17 on the overall Kenpom ratings, but have not looked like it down the stretch. Illinois shooters converted on just 40.7% of field goal attempts in their two most recent outings, and lost two of their three most recent dates with nationallty ranked opponents despite being perched as favourites in those contests.
Complicating matters is the uncertain status of Jacob Grandison, who is nursing a shoulder injury. However, the good news is the continued steady play of junior big man Kofi Cockburn, who has averaged 22 points and 12 boards per game while recording double-doubles in his past two outings.
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