Morehead State vs. Illinois Picks, Odds, Starting Lineups for the 2024 March Madness Tournament
Morehead State vs. Illinois Picks, Odds, Starting Lineups for the 2024 March Madness Tournament
Morehead State and Illinois tip-off on Thursday afternoon from the East Region at CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska for Round 1 of March Madness.
Illinois is coming off of a Big 10 Conference Championship win over Wisconsin, led by their talented point guard, Terrence Shannon. The Fighting Illini are a 3-seed going up against the 14-seed Morehead State Eagles, who just won the Ohio Valley Conference. The Eagles are riding a six-game winning streak into the Big Dance.
Here's the latest odds for Morehead State vs. Illinois, including starting lineups, to formulate best bets during this Round 1 matchup from Omaha on Thursday afternoon
MOREHEAD STATE VS. ILLINOIS START TIME, WHERE TO WATCH, AND ODDS
- Date: Thursday, March 21, 2024
- Start Time: 3:10 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: truTV
MOREHEAD STATE VS. ILLINOIS ODDS AND BETTING DATA
| TEAM | SPREAD | MONEYLINE | IMPLIED CHANCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morehead State Eagles | +11.5 (-110) | -720 | 87.80% |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | -11.5 (-110) | 500 | 16.67% |
Illinois and its top-ten scoring offense find themselves favored -11.5 on the point spread by oddsmakers at FanDuel Sportsbook. Morehead State won't shy away though, holding their opponents to 62.8 points per game this season, while averaging over 75 points per game on offense.
We saw the Fighting Illini fall apart against Penn State a month ago and they also struggled for the majority of their three-point win over Ohio State during the Big Ten tournament this past week. The Eagles have played inferior competition compared to Illinois, however, their ability to defend and control the pace of the game translates well to a single-game elimination format like March Madness.
MOREHEAD STATE VS. ILLINOIS PREDICTION
Morehead State is the trendy play as a 14-seed against 3-seed Illinois in this Round 1 matchup. The Eagles convert at nearly a 47 percent rate from the field, including over 36 percent from three-point range.
Illinois struggles defensively, ceding 68 or more points in each of its last 12 games played a a neutral venue. The Fighting Illini outscore their opponents to win matchups, but against a strong defensive team like Morehead State, their strength could become a weakness.
Illinois has only held one opponent, Iowa, under 71 points in its last six games played. Morehead State should capitalize against a porous defense and get buckets, while stifling some of the Fighting Illini's possessions.
Let's wager a unit on Morehead State to cover as double-digit underdog on the point spread due to their combination of scoring efficiency and defensive play.
Morehead State vs. Illinois Prediction: Morehead State +11.5 (-110) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
MOREHEAD STATE VS. ILLINOIS PROJECTED LINEUPS
Morehead State projected lineup:
- G Jordan Lathon
- G Drew Thelwell
- G Kalil Thomas
- F Riley Minix
- F Dieonte Miles
Illinois projected lineup:
- G Terrence Shannon
- F Marcus Domask
- F Coleman Hawkins
- F Quincy Guerrier
- G Ty Rodgers
MOREHEAD STATE MARCH MADNESS ODDS
Morehead State is one of over a dozen teams in the tournament with +100000 odds to win the tournament outright. The Eagles have a tough path to contend in the East Region, drawing Terrence Shannon and the Illinois offense in Round 1, with 2-seed Iowa State looming large alongside top-seeded UConn and 4-seed Auburn. The futures market for Morehead State offers the longest odds for a reason, so no need to invest in the Eagles after the first weekend.
ILLINOIS MARCH MADNESS ODDS
If we think Illinois could be on upset alert in Round 1 against Morehead State, there's almost no incentive to bet on them at +3500 odds in the National Championship futures market. If the Fighting Illini had a good defense to compliment their offense, it'd be a different conversation, but these odds are too short considering the current state of affairs.
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Matt is an avid writer, editor, and researcher. He enjoys analyzing the game within the game which is fantasy sports and sports betting. Music is another constant in his daily life. Matt loves spending time with his wife and three pets. He likes to read, listen to podcasts, and is constantly motivated to create the most accurate and engaging content in the sports betting industry.