Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Drexel Dragons Betting Preview

The number 1 seed, Illinois Fighting Illini, will face 16th-seeded Drexel on Friday afternoon for a First Round matchup in the Midwest Region. The winner of this game will advance to take on the Loyola-Chicago/Georgia Tech winner in the second round.

Illinois is the number three overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, and this team has been on a roll of late. The Fighting Illini just won the Big Ten Tournament on Sunday, and they bring an impressive 23-6 record into the NCAA Tournament.

Drexel went just 12-7 during the regular season and came out of nowhere to win the Colonial Athletic Association title with four straight wins. The Dragons had a number of games canceled due to COVID-19, but they enter this tournament healthy.

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 22.5-point favorites over Drexel.

Illini Can Really Score

The Fighting Illini come into the NCAA Tournament averaging more than 81 points per game, and this team has the potential to blow this game open in a hurry. Illinois is led by Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn, and Drexel won’t have an answer for either of them.

Dosunmu leads the team with 20.7 points and 5.3 assists per game and has already recorded a pair of triple-doubles this season. Cockburn is a double-double machine, and the Dragons won’t have anyone to stop the massive center.

Illinois has a deep and talented bench as well, and they are clicking on all cylinders heading into this First Round matchup. 

Drexel Must Defend

If Drexel wants to keep this game close, then they are going to have to be great on the defensive end of the floor. The Dragons are holding opponents to just 66.8 points per game, but they have never faced a team like Illinois.

The Dragons are led by Camren Wynter and his 16.8 points per game, but there isn’t a ton of scoring options on this team. Drexel averages just 71.5 points per game, and they don’t have the weapons to beat Illinois in a high-scoring affair. 

Drexel will look to do all they can to slow this game down, but that’s easier said than done against Illinois. 

Illinois Cruises to Round of 32

The Drexel Dragons have had a terrific season, but they are completely overmatched in this game. Drexel could play their best game of the season, and it likely still wouldn’t be enough to pull off this upset.

Illinois has two of the best players in the country, and the Fighting Illini are as confident as any team in the NCAA Tournament. Illinois has had a tendency to play down to their competition at times, but that won’t be an issue in the NCAA Tournament. 

Look for Illinois to take control of this game early as they blow out the Drexel Dragons. The Fighting Illini make a statement in the First Round and put the Midwest Region on notice. 

Bet the Illinois Fighting Illini -22.5 over the Drexel Dragons as they march on to the round of 32. 

Keep up with your latest college basketball news and betting pick previews at The Dunkel Index. 

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