- Illinois is a seven point favorite over ninth seeded Iowa, who defeated #1 seed Florida in the Round of 32.
- Purdue is a six point underdog against Arizona, who have won their last 12 consecutive games and defeated Arkansas by 21.
HOUSTON – While the second night of Sweet Sixteen action is set for Friday night, here’s a look ahead at the odds and best bets for the Elite Eight games on Saturday.
#9 Iowa vs #3 Illinois Game Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | +7.0 (-115) | +240 | O 137.5 (-110) |
| Illinois | -7.0 (-105) | -290 | U 137.5 (-110) |
Ninth seeded Iowa has been the closest thing we have to a Cinderella this March, defeating #1 seed Florida before pulling off another huge win over Nebraska in the Sweet 16.
Conference foe Illinois has been one of the most impressive teams in the tournament, winning each of their first two games by 20+ points and defeating #2 Houston in a pseudo-road game to advance to the Elite Eight.
The best bet for this game is Illinois to cover the seven point spread at sports betting sites, despite Iowa’s recent success.
The Fighting Illini have been renowned for their offense, which ranks second in the country in adjusted efficiency, but their defense has been a big part of their success, ranking 17th in the country since the beginning of February.
Iowa certainly has plenty of offensive firepower with the 16th most efficient offense, but they rank just 88th in defensive efficiency since February 1st and have allowed a 56.6% effective field goal percentage to opponents, which ranks 331st.
Though the Hawkeyes have put together an impressive run, their defense will likely be the factor holding them back.
#2 Purdue vs #1 Arizona Game Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue | +6.0 (-110) | +210 | O 152.0 (-115) |
| Arizona | -6.0 (-110) | -250 | U 152.0 (-105) |
The Boilermakers survived a scare from 11th seeded Texas in the Sweet Sixteen, winning by a final score of 79-77 to advance to the Elite Eight for the second time in three years.
Arizona took care of an Arkansas team that had won its last seven consecutive games, posting a dominant 21 point win over the four seed in the West.
Picking the favorite to cover the spread is the play once again, as Arizona has arguably been the best team in the tournament thus far.
The Wildcats have won their last 12 straight games, which includes two wins against each of Houston and Iowa State, both two seeds in the tournament.
Purdue struggled to pull away from both Miami and Texas, raising concerns about their ability to compete with top ranked teams.
While they’ve had the top adjusted offensive efficiency in the country since February, their defensive efficiency ranks 52nd during that span and their opponents have recorded a 54.9% effective field goal percentage, the 297th mark in the country.
Arizona’s size and defensive prowess should be enough for them to cover the six point spread at March Madness betting sites.
