The Drexel Dragons will look to pull off a stunning upset win in the first round when they take on the Big Ten champions, Illinois Fighting Illini. Are we in for a shocker? Or will Illinois get out of the first round with ease? Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Drexel Dragons vs Illinois Fighting Illini NCAA College Basketball Game on March 19 2021
Where: Indiana Farmers Coliseum
When: Friday, March 19, 2021, 1:15 PM ET
Line: Drexel Dragons (+22.5) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (-22.5) – view all 2021 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: TBS
Betting on the Drexel Dragons (+22.5)
Record: 12-7 Overall / 4-5 Conference
Drexel isn’t going to back down in a shootout. The CAA champions have been on a tear lately, as the Dragons have averaged 75.3 points on 50.2 percent shooting from the floor over their last four games. In addition, Drexel has drilled an average of 10.3 threes on 51.9 percent shooting from behind the arc over the same stretch. The Dragons also have great chemistry on the floor, thanks in large part to the fact that they have plenty of holdovers from last season. In fact, Drexel is third in the nation and tops among all teams in the 2021 March Madness in terms of continuity, per KenPom. Drexel has four players putting up at least 10.0 points per game, led by Camren Wynter, who is averaging 16.8 points on 47.3 percent shooting from the field. Three of Drexel’s top four scorers are shooting 48.0 percent from the floor or better.
Drexel is 4-0 against the spread in its last four games overall.
Betting on the Illinois Fighting Illini (-22.5)
Record: 23-6 Overall / 16-4 Conference
Fresh off winning the Big Ten tournament title, the Fighting Illini are poised to steamroll past their first-round opponent, Drexel. Illinois defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes in the conference title game via overtime, 91-88, with Ayo Dosunmo and Kofi Cockburn scoring 16 points each. Cockburn is expected to be a huge problem, literally and figuratively for Drexel, which has a soft interior defense that can be abused by the Illinois big man. The Dragons allowed opponents to shoot 50.4 percent from inside the arc back in the regular season, 205th overall in the nation. Illinois averaged 81.7 points on 49.2 percent shooting from the field while capping opponents to only 69.6 points over the Fighting Illini’s last seven games, dating back to the regular season. Dosunmo is the engine that makes Illinois run, as the do-it-all guard is averaging 20.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game this season.
Illinois 7-3 against the spread in its last 10 games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
Illinois wins, 84-63.
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