Illinois vs. VCU Dunkel Predictions & Vegas Odds - Second Round

The No. 3 seed from the South Region bracket, the Illinois Fighting Illini (25-8), play the No. 11 seed VCU Rams (28-7) on Saturday with a spot in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on the line. Illinois has been installed as a 10.5-point favorite to win this second round matchup, which tips off at 7:50 p.m. ET on CBS. The over/under is 150.5 in the matchup.

Illinois is coming off of a 105-70 win against Pennsylvania in its most recent game on Thursday. David Mirkovic recorded 29 points, 17 rebounds and three assists for Illinois. VCU took care of business in its most recent matchup 82-78 in OT against North Carolina on Thursday. In VCU's win, Terrence Hill Jr. led the way with 34 points (adding five rebounds and five assists).

Illinois vs. VCU Odds and Game Time

• When: Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 7:50 p.m. ET
• Where: Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina
• Spread favorite: Illinois -10.5
• Moneyline favorite: Illinois -606
• Moneyline underdog: VCU +426
• Over/Under: 150.5 points

How to watch Illinois vs. VCU

• TV Channel: CBS
• Check out the rest of our Dunkel Index NCAA Basketball Picks!

Betting the Over/Under: Illinois vs. VCU

• Illinois and its opponents have combined to outscore Saturday's over/under (150.5 points) 17 times this season.
• There have been 19 VCU games that finished with a combined score over 150.5 points this season.
• The Fighting Illini average 85 points per game against the Rams' 81.6, amounting to 16.1 points over the contest's total of 150.5.
• These two teams surrender a combined 141.5 points per game, nine less than this contest's over/under.
• On average, Illinois has had a 154.8-point over/under in its games this season, 4.3 more points than the over/under in this matchup.
• A difference of 2.7 points separates the average over/under in VCU's games (153.2 points) and this matchup's over/under (150.5).

Betting the Spread: Illinois vs. VCU

• Illinois is 19-14-0 against the spread this year.
• The Fighting Illini have been favored by 10.5 points or more 17 times this season and are 9-8 ATS in those games.
• In VCU's 35 games this year, it has 19 wins against the spread.
• This season, the Rams won ATS in their only game as an underdog of 10.5 points or more.
• Illinois is 14-3 overall, and 10-7 against the spread, at home.
• Illinois is 8-6 ATS as a 10.5-point favorite or more at home.
• VCU is 7-3 overall, and 6-4 against the spread, away from home.
• VCU is winless ATS (0-1) as 10.5-point underdogs or more away from home.

Betting the Moneyline: Illinois vs. VCU

• This season, Illinois has won 22 out of the 27 games, or 81.5%, in which it has been the moneyline favorite.
• The Fighting Illini have a record of 15-2 in games where bookmakers favor them by at least -606 on the moneyline.
• The implied probability of a win from Illinois, based on the moneyline, is 85.8%.
• VCU has been a moneyline underdog in six games this season and has come away with the win two times (33.3%) in those contests.
• The Rams have played as an underdog of +426 or more just one time this year and came away with a loss in that game.
• The moneyline set for this matchup implies VCU has a 19% chance of walking away with the win.