Illinois vs. Morehead State Prediction, Odds, Picks - NCAA Tournament First Round

Updated Mar. 21, 2024 3:27 p.m. ET

Data Skrive

An opening-round NCAA Tournament matchup will see the No. 3-seed Illinois Fighting Illini (26-8) take the court against the No. 14 seed Morehead State Eagles (26-8) on Thursday at CHI Health Center Omaha. The contest tips off at 3:10 PM ET, on truTV.

The Fighting Illini hit the court as double-digit favorites against the Eagles. The Fighting Illini are favored by 10.5 points. The game's over/under is set at 146.5.

Keep reading to get the download before betting on the Illinois-Morehead State contest.

Illinois vs. Morehead State Game Information & Odds

When: Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 3:10 PM ET
Where: CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska
How to Watch on TV: truTV
Live boxscore on FOX Sports

Fighting Illini vs Eagles Betting Information
Favorite	Spread	Favorite Spread Odds	Underdog Spread Odds	Total	Over Total Odds	Under Total Odds	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline
Fighting Illini	-10.5	-115	-105	146.5	-110	-110	-650	+470

Illinois vs. Morehead State Prediction

Pick ATS: Illinois (-10.5)
Pick OU: Over (146.5)
Prediction: Illinois 81, Morehead State 67

Learn more about the Illinois Fighting Illini vs. the Morehead State Eagles game on FOX Sports!

Illinois vs. Morehead State Betting Insights

Betting Line Implied Predictions

Based on the spread and over/under, the implied score for the encounter is Fighting Illini 78, Eagles 68.
The Fighting Illini have an 86.7% chance to collect the win in this contest per the moneyline's implied probability.
The Eagles hold a 17.5% implied probability to win.

Key Spread Facts

Illinois has won 18 games against the spread this season, while failing to cover or pushing 15 times.
Morehead State has won 19 games against the spread this year, while failing to cover 11 times.
Illinois is 5-6 ATS this season when playing as at least 10.5-point favorites.
Morehead State has covered the spread once when an underdog by 10.5 points or more this season (in four opportunities).

Key Total Facts

Fighting Illini games have finished with more than 146.5 points 24 times so far this season.
Eagles games have gone over 146.5 points on 10 occasions this year.
The over/under for this game is 146.5 points, 13.4 fewer than the scoring average of the two teams combined.

Key Moneyline Facts

Illinois has won 19 of 24 games when favored on the moneyline this season (79.2%).
Morehead State has been underdogs in five games this season and won three (60%) of those contests.
Illinois has won all seven games it played as a moneyline favorite with odds of -650 or shorter.
Morehead State has a record of 1-3 when it is set as the underdog by +470 or more by oddsmakers this season.

Illinois vs. Morehead State: 2023-24 Stats Comparison

	Illinois	Morehead State
Points Scored Per Game (Rank)	84.4 (9)	75.5 (117)
Points Allowed (Rank)	73.8 (240)	62.8 (8)
Rebounds (Rank)	11.3 (18)	10.3 (52)
3pt Made (Rank)	8.3 (88)	9.4 (25)
Assists (Rank)	13 (182)	14.9 (71)
Turnovers (Rank)	10.3 (87)	11.2 (178)

Illinois 2023-24 Key Players

Fighting Illini Leaders
Name	GP	PTS	REB	ASST	STL	BLK	3PM
Terrence Shannon Jr.	28	23	4.1	2.2	0.9	0.9	2.4
Marcus Domask	34	16	4.9	3.7	0.3	0.4	1.1
Coleman Hawkins	31	12.4	6.2	2.7	1.5	1.1	1.6
Quincy Guerrier	34	10	6.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	1.2
Ty Rodgers	34	6.7	5.5	2.1	0.5	0.4	0

Morehead State 2023-24 Key Players

Eagles Leaders
Name	GP	PTS	REB	ASST	STL	BLK	3PM
Riley Minix	34	20.8	9.8	2.2	1.3	1	1.6
Jordan Lathon	30	15.4	6	2.3	1	0.3	2.1
Kalil Thomas	33	12.5	4.4	1.3	0.7	0.2	3.1
Drew Thelwell	33	10	3.1	6.2	1.3	0.2	1.4
Eddie Ricks III	34	7.6	5.3	1.4	0.7	1.1	1