Barry Recks
The Arkansas Razorbacks and the Illinois Fighting Illini seem so evenly matched, which is also why there’s a lot of intrigue surrounding this SEC-Big Ten showdown in the first round.
Read on for more about this Arkansas vs Illinois matchup in the 2022-23 college basketball season, including the latest odds, pick, and prediction to win this showdown, as brought to you by JefeBet. Also, don’t forget to check out the other NCAAB game previews here to help you make the best betting decisions.
Predictions and Betting Preview for the Arkansas Razorbacks vs Illinois Fighting Illini NCAA Basketball Championship Round 1 Game on March 16, 2023
- Where: Wells Fargo Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- When: Thursday, March 16, 2023, 4:30 PM ET
- March Madness Betting Odds: View NCAAB Odds
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Betting on the Arkansas Razorbacks
- Regular Season Record: 20-13
The Razorbacks were like a house on fire when they started the season with 11 wins in 12 games. They have cooled off since, especially during the conference play, but they will still dance this March. Arkansas finished the regular season with three losses in a row, though, two of those games were against top 10 teams (per KenPom) in Alabama and Tennessee.
The other loss was against Kentucky before recovering a bit with a win over the Auburn Tigers in the SEC tournament, 76-73. Then Arkansas lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champs Texas A&M, 67-61. Despite their recent struggles, Arkansas can get the job done versus Illinois. The Razorbacks’ defense is prepared to silence Illinois, with Arkansas allowing only 67.4 points per game and 94 points per 100 possessions adjusted –16th-best in the nation.
Betting on the Illinois Fighting Illini
- Regular Season Record: 20-12
Illinois lost its last regular-season game to the Purdue Boilermakers and struck out of the Big Ten tournament right away in a 79-76 loss to the Penns State Nittany Lions. But don’t let those setbacks define the Fighting Illini entirely because this is a team that has also defeated teams like the Michigan State Spartans, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, and Northwestern Wildcats in conference play.
The Fighting Illini also beat the Big 12 tournament champions Texas Longhorns back in December in a neutral site, 85-78. Like Arkansas, Illinois is also armed with a solid defense, one that is allowing only 67 points per game and limiting opponents to just a 46.9 eFG%. Former Texas Tech star Terrence Shannon Jr., and Baylor transfer Matthew Mayer lead the cast of this Illinois squad that is 17th in the nation with a 55.3 2FG%.
JefeBet Prediction
Arkansas and Illinois will be exchanging leads in the first half and perhaps up to the middle of the second half, with Ricky Council taking over for the Razorbacks the rest of the way. Taking Arkansas to win straight up.
Prediction: Arkansas wins, 74-72.
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