Picks for 3/28/26
College Basketball
6:09 PM EST
Rotation # 630
Illinois -6.5 over Iowa (win)
Iowa is the most likable team left in the tournament. The Hawkeyes are basically the Drake program in BIG 10 uniforms. Ben McCollum is a heck of a coach, as he was able to change schools and bring a bulk of his team with him. There is a lot of camaraderie between teammates dating back to their time with the Bulldogs. America is rooting for this team to have a movie-worthy ending to the season. Iowa is a scrappy program that forces turnovers and values basketball, but I question whether they have gone as far as they can based on raw talent. Illinois has the size advantage in this game and is much better on the glass. The Hawkeyes would need to shoot a ridiculously high shooting percentage to stay in the game. The Illini will look to pound the paint with their big guards Keaton Wagler and Andrej Stojakovic and clean up on the boards with the Ivisic brothers and David Mirkovic. Illinois won the head-to-head this season in Iowa City and has many advantages they must capitalize on. The Illini have spent far too much money on their program to lose to a team that finished well below them in conference play. Look for a boring half-court contest where the Illini’s skill advantage is too much for the Hawkeyes to handle. Take Illinois.
6:09 PM EST
Rotation # 630
Illinois -6.5 over Iowa (win)
Iowa is the most likable team left in the tournament. The Hawkeyes are basically the Drake program in BIG 10 uniforms. Ben McCollum is a heck of a coach, as he was able to change schools and bring a bulk of his team with him. There is a lot of camaraderie between teammates dating back to their time with the Bulldogs. America is rooting for this team to have a movie-worthy ending to the season. Iowa is a scrappy program that forces turnovers and values basketball, but I question whether they have gone as far as they can based on raw talent. Illinois has the size advantage in this game and is much better on the glass. The Hawkeyes would need to shoot a ridiculously high shooting percentage to stay in the game. The Illini will look to pound the paint with their big guards Keaton Wagler and Andrej Stojakovic and clean up on the boards with the Ivisic brothers and David Mirkovic. Illinois won the head-to-head this season in Iowa City and has many advantages they must capitalize on. The Illini have spent far too much money on their program to lose to a team that finished well below them in conference play. Look for a boring half-court contest where the Illini’s skill advantage is too much for the Hawkeyes to handle. Take Illinois.