#5 UConn vs. #13 Illinois Picks and Predictions: Huskies Host Illini at Madison Square Garden

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Dan Hurley and UConn are one of the nation's best teams this season - Texas UConn Picks

Don’t let the tryptophan make you sleep through this top 15 matchup between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the No. 5 ranked UConn Huskies. Dan Hurley and his team were sure to celebrate Thanksgiving on Wednesday, that way the chemical from the turkey won’t make them sluggish today. Will it even matter? Or will the Huskies steam roll Brad Underwood’s squad at Madison Square Garden? Let’s get into our favorite picks and find out.

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#5 UConn Huskies vs. #13 Illinois Fighting Illini NCAA Basketball Insights

Solo Ball and the Huskies take on the Illini at Madison Square Garden this afternoon - UConn Illinois Picks

Solo Ball and the Huskies take on the Illini at Madison Square Garden this afternoon

Both teams have just one loss on their record, but both blemishes are certainly respectable. After starting off the season with four straight wins, including one over No. 7 BYU at TD Garden, the Huskies were beaten at home by a strong Arizona Wildcats team. Tommy Lloyd’s squad held the hosts to just 67 total points in their four point upset victory on the road. UConn has turned it on since, beating Bryant by 23 on Sunday.

As for Illinois, they began their season with four straight wins also, including one over No. 11 Texas Tech at the State Farm Center. However, they lost to the Alabama Crimson Tide in Chicago on a neutral court. Since then, the Illini have won two games in pretty convincing fashion, leaving me thinking they are ready to take on the Huskies. But do they have it in them to cover this spread?

Matchup Information – UConn vs. Illinois – November 28

  • Venue & Location:Madison Square GArden (New York, NY)
  • Date: Friday, November 28, 2025
  • Kick Off: 12:30 p.m. Eastern
  • Broadcast: FOX

UConn vs. Illinois Betting Odds

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of November 28, 2025 at 9:15 a.m. eastern. Sign up today with Promo Code BNBOL55 for a 55% deposit bonus. BetOnline offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.

Spread

  • Illinois +4 (-115)
  • UConn -4 (-105)

Moneyline

  • Illinois +149
  • UConn -170

Total

  • Over 151.5 (-110)
  • Under 151.5 (-110)

This total has been ticking down since it opened at 155.5, yet the spread has steamed up. UConn was only favored by 1.5 at opening, but now are laying over a single possession. If I’m reading into following the steam, it sounds like UConn covers a low scoring game.

#5 UConn vs. #13 Illinois NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions

Kylan Boswelladds 16.1 points and 4.1 boards and assists for the Illini this season - UConn Illinois Picks

Kylan Boswelladds 16.1 points and 4.1 boards and assists for the Illini this season

UConn vs. Illinois Prediction: UConn Wins and Covers, Over 151.5

Best Bet: UConn/Illinois Over 151.5 (-110) BetOnline

Do your line shopping as always, and maybe even wait until right before tip off to bet this. When you speed up UConn, they are able to score plenty. They are one of the most efficient offenses in all the land, and they take great care of the basketball. There were 74 possessions in their game against BYU where they scored 86 and almost gave away a win. Against Arizona? We only saw 63 possessions, their lowest of the season. Yes, UConn plays a meticulous, slow half court offense, but they certainly have the tools to speed up.

Illinois will make this game fast. The Illini are also one of the most efficient offenses in all of college basketball, but they play at a much faster speed. They’ve seen just one game go under 70 possessions, and they had 79 against Alabama. Even against Texas Tech, who plays like UConn, the Illini sped them up for 72 possessions, going over the league average.

This afternoon, I see both teams running, which will give Hurley’s squad more time to put the ball in the hoop, cover the spread, and push this game over the total. At this point in the season, I probably shouldn’t be fading all this steam, but I see 80 points winning this game.

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