Illinois vs. Houston NCAA Tournament Prediction: Odds, Spread, and Sweet 16 Picks from SportsLine Model The third-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini will face the second-seeded Houston Cougars in a 2026 NCAA Tournament South Region Sweet 16 matchup on Thursday. The game, set for 10:05 p.m. ET at Toyota Center in Houston, marks the first meeting between the programs since 2022. Illinois, which finished second in a three-way tie for the Big 10 Conference title, enters the game with a 26-8 record after a 76-55-88 last-second victory over VCU in the second round. Houston, the Big 12 runner-up with a 30-6 record, defeated Texas A&M 88-57 in its previous game. Both teams have won four of their last five contests. The Cougars are listed as 2.5-point favorites in the latest odds, with the over/under for total points scored set at 139.5. Houston’s money line is -141, meaning bettors would need to risk $141 to win $100, while Illinois is +118. SportsLine’s Projection Model, which has demonstrated strong accuracy in recent NCAA Tournament predictions, has simulated the matchup 10,000 times. The model’s analysis suggests the game will be competitive, with both teams expected to contribute multiple players scoring 12 points or more. Illinois is projected to have four players reach double figures, including Keaton Wagler, who is expected to score 15.7 points. Houston’s Emanuel Sharp is predicted to lead the Cougars with 16.2 points. The model’s simulations indicate a total of 149 points in 74.3% of scenarios, suggesting the over will likely be the correct choice. Illinois, however, has a strong track record in Thursday games, posting a 10-2 straight-up record in their last 12 such contests.#ncaa_tournament #houston_cougars #toyota_center #illinois_fighting_illini #sportsline_model
Illinois vs. Houston NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Matchup: Odds, Predictions, and Key Insights The third-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini will face the second-seeded Houston Cougars in a 2026 NCAA Tournament South Region Sweet 16 showdown on Thursday. Illinois, which finished second in a three-way tie for the Big 10 Conference, enters the game after a 76-55-88 last-second victory over VCU in the second round. Houston, the Big 12 runner-up, defeated Texas A&M 88-57 in its previous matchup. Both teams have won four of their last five games, with Illinois boasting a 26-8 record and Houston a 30-6 mark. The game will tip off at 10:05 p.m. ET from the Toyota Center in Houston. Houston is listed as a 2.5-point favorite in the latest odds, with the over/under for total points set at 139.5. The Cougars are priced at -150 on the money line, meaning a $150 bet would yield $100 profit. SportsLine’s Projection Model, which has demonstrated strong accuracy in college basketball predictions, has simulated the matchup 10,000 times and provided its analysis. The model’s simulations suggest the game will likely go over the total points line, as both teams have a history of scoring heavily. Illinois has exceeded the over/under in three of its last four games, while Houston’s previous contest also saw a high total. The model projects Illinois to have four players scoring 12 points or more, including Keaton Wagler, who is expected to contribute 15.7 points. Houston’s Emanuel Sharp is projected to lead the scoring with 16.2 points, supported by three players reaching double figures. The model’s simulations predict a combined total of 149 points in 74.3% of cases, reinforcing the over/under outlook.#ncaa_tournament #sportsline #houston_cougars #toyota_center #illinois_fighting_illini
