Houston Cougars vs Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Preview/Prop Pick

The NCAA Tournament action continues on Sunday, and there is a terrific South Region game set to kick things off. It will be the Houston Cougars taking on the Illinois Fighting Illini, and a trip to the Sweet 16 is on the line. 

Houston comes into this game with an overall record of 30-5, but they were given the number 5 seed in the South. The Cougars cruised past UAB in their First Round game, and this team was in the Final Four a season ago.

Illinois is 23-9 on the year, but they were given the number four seed in the South Region. The Fighting Illini survived a scare from the Chattanooga Mocs in the First Round as they led for just 25 seconds in that game. 

The Houston Cougars are 4.5-point betting favorites over the Illinois Fighting Illini in this Second Round Matchup.

Houston Playing Some Defense

Houston has consistently been a terrific defensive team under head coach Kelvin Sampson, and that formula has them back in this position. The Cougars did give up 68 points to UAB in the First Round, but they are capable of holding teams in the 50s.

This team has struggled shooting the basketball at times, but that wasn’t the case in the win over the Blazers. Houston made nearly 50 percent of their three-point shots from deep, and that will be a huge key in this game.

The Cougars have dealt with some injuries and adversity this season, but they just continue finding ways to win. 

Cockburn Carrying the Illini

Illinois All-American center Kofi Cockburn is going it all for this team, but he is going to need some help against a tough Houston defense. Cockburn is averaging 21 points and 10.7 rebounds per game this season, but Houston will have some size to throw at him.

Trent Frazier and Damonte Williams failed to make a three-point shot in the win over Chattanooga, and the Illini made just three as a team. Another poor shooting performance on Sunday could send the Fighting Illini packing.

Illinois will defend as they were one of the best teams in the Big Ten Conference. The Fighting Illini would prefer winning games on offense, but that isn’t going to be easy. 

Controls Cruise Past Fighting Illini

There was a time when it looked like the Fighting Illini were a legitimate Final Four contender, but that is simply no longer the case. Illinois really struggled down the stretch, and they just aren’t making enough shots to beat the best teams on their schedule.

Houston has been in this position before, and they have the type of defense that it takes to win games in the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars are going to control the tempo in this game, and they will find enough offense when needed. 

Illinois will give Houston a challenge for a while, but the Cougars are simply the better team. Bet the Houston Cougars -4.5 as they win this game by close to ten points over the Fighting Illini and advance to the Sweet 16.

Prop Pick

Houston (-115) OVER 68.5 Points

Houston is averaging 75.9 points per game on offense, which ranks No. 60 in the nation, while shooting 46.7 percent from the field, which ranks No. 46.  Scores had gone OVER in seven of the Fighting Illini’s last nine games as a Vegas underdog.

With Dunkel predicting a Houston victory by the score of 73-65, take the Cougars (-115) to finish OVER their Vegas team total of 68.5 points against the Fighting Illini.

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