The Illinois Fighting Illini and UConn men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in the 2026 NCAA Tournament Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, April 4. The scheduled game time is 6:09 p.m. ET/5:09 p.m. CT.
No. 3 seed Illinois enters the Final Four at 28-8 overall. Most recently, Illinois defeated Iowa 71-59 in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight on Saturday, March 28. Against Iowa, Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler led the team with 25 points, three assists, and two rebounds.
No. 2-seeded UConn comes into the contest 33-5 overall. On Sunday, UConn beat Duke 73-72 in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. Facing Duke, UConn center Tarris Reed Jr. led the team with 26 points, nine rebounds, four blocked shots, three assists, and two steals.
Earlier this season, UConn defeated Illinois 74-61 on Nov. 28 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Final Four: Illinois vs. UConn basketball betting odds, point spread
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a 1.5-point favorite against UConn men’s basketball, according to DraftKings Sportsbook at 11:56 p.m. ET/10:56 p.m. CT on Sunday.
The over/under is 139.5 points. The halftime over/under is 64.5 points.
Illinois is -130 (bet $135 to win $100) to win outright, and UConn is +110 (bet $100 to win $110) to win outright.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, 73% of the bets placed are on UConn, and 27% of the bets placed are on Illinois.
Illinois basketball opened as a 2.5-point favorite against UConn, according to DraftKings Sportsbook at 7:32 p.m. ET/6:32 p.m. CT on Sunday. The over/under opened at 140.5 points. The Illinois Fighting Illini opened at -135 (bet $135 to win $100) to win outright, and UConn opened at +114 (bet $100 to win $114) to win outright.
The winner advances to play in the NCAA Tournament national championship game at 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT on Monday, April 6.
Brad Underwood is the Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball head coach. This is his ninth season as the Illini basketball head coach, and this is Illinois’ sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. Illinois ended the 2025 NCAA Tournament with a loss to Kentucky in the second round.
The Illinois men’s basketball program made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament during the 1941-42 season. Illinois has now reached the Final Four on six occasions. The Illini last reached the Final Four in 2005, when they lost to North Carolina in the national championship game.
