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Kentucky vs Illinois Live Stream & Tips – Wildcats To Cover As March Madness Underdogs

Leigh Copson

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Last updated: 22 Mar 2025

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Leigh Copson 22 Mar 2025

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Kentucky are slight underdogs but have a better shooting percentage
Recent form: Kentucky 4 wins in last 5, Illinois 5 wins in last 6
Head-to-head: Kentucky leads 11-4, last win in 1984

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Kentucky vs Illinois Predictions & Tips

Kentucky vs Illinois Predictions & Tips
Head To Head
Kentucky Form
Illinois Form

Kentucky vs Illinois Predictions & Tips

Kentucky are tipped to cover as a slight underdog in the second round.

This game could simply come down to who shoots the ball more effectively, and it is the Wildcats who have the better shooting percentage.

Kentucky have won 8 of their previous 12 games
Illinois are 2-2 in their last four games at a neutral venue
The Under cashed in both teams’ March Madness opener

Head To Head

Kentucky lead the all-time series 11-4
Kentucky won 54-51 when the two teams last met in March 1984

Kentucky Form

Kentucky enter this game on a decent run of form, having won four of their previous five games.

The Wildcats stumbled late in the regular season with a handful of defeats, but did wrap up that part of the campaign with back-to-back wins.

They blew out Louisiana State at home, 95-64, before heading out on the road to beat Missouri 91-83.

Kentucky made it three-in-a-row with an 85-84 victory over Oklahoma in the SEC tournament, only to then get demolished by Alabama in the next round, 99-70.

The Wildcats bounced back in the first round of March Madness though, beating Troy 76-57.

Illinois Form

Illinois enter this matchup having rebounded from a three-game skid in February with five wins in their last six games.

The Fighting Illini endured their worst run of the season when they went on that three-game losing run, but they rebounded to win their final three regular season games.

They sandwiched a 93-73 victory in Michigan with home wins against both Iowa, 81-61, and Purdue, 88-80.

Illinois then opened their Big Ten tournament campaign with a 106-94 win over Iowa, only to lose 88-65 to Maryland in the next round.

The Fighting Illini issued an immediate response in the first-round of March Madness, beating Xavier 86-73.

Verdict

Illinois @ Kentucky

When Illinois are good they are good, but when things go wrong they go wrong badly.

That could spell trouble against a Kentucky team who shoot the ball more effectively, so we like the Wildcats with the free bucket.

Kentucky +1.5

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