The NCAA Tournament has reached the Sweet 16 round. Iowa State stifled their first two opponents defensively, continuing to look like one of the best teams in the nation. Illinois has the offense to test them, led by Terrance Shannon Jr.
Before Betting On Illinois vs Iowa State
Illinois continues to ride a scorching-hot offense as they enter the Sweet 16. They faced a pair of double-digit seeds in the tournament’s first weekend, but managed to outscore them by an average score of 87-66. Iowa State’s #1 ranked defense will provide the Fighting Illini with a level of difficulty that they didn’t face in the first two rounds, or for much of the regular season.
Illinois leading-scorer Terrence Shannon Jr. will be tasked with finding a way to provide offense against the Cyclones, who held their first two opponents to under 70 points. Shannon Jr. racked up 56 points against Morehead State and Duquesne, making him the clear top option for the Fighting Illini on offense. Illinois seeks to return to the Elite 8 for the first time since 2005.
Iowa State’s sensational defense surpassed conference rival Houston in the metrics after the tournament’s second round, claiming the #1 ranking. However, in the Sweet 16, the Cyclones will face a major jump in difficulty. After taking on a couple of subpar offenses, they’ll match up against the nation’s #1 offense in Illinois. Iowa State is 7-5 against the spread in the last 12 games.
Tamin Lipsey has been crucial on both sides of the ball for the Cyclones. In the win over Washington State, Lipsey finished with 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. With a game in the next round against the UConn’s second-ranked offense a possibility, Iowa State will need to prove just how good their defense is to make the Final Four for the first time since 1944.
Illinois vs Iowa State Offshore Odds
This matchup holds a lot of intrigue. Not only does the winner draw a date with the winner of the 2023 title game rematch, but it’s also a clash between the #1 offense and the #1 defense. With two opposites colliding, the offense is more likely to break through late in the game. Illinois should have a slight advantage in this one.
