The 11th-seeded Duquesne Dukes will look to make school history by registering back-to-back NCAA Tournament victories for the first time when they clash with the third-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini in a 2024 NCAA Tournament East Region second-round matchup on Saturday. The Dukes (25-11), who last made the tournament in 1977, earned their first tournament win since 1969 on Thursday when they defeated sixth-seeded BYU 71-67. The Fighting Illini (26-8), who earned their fourth NCAA berth in a row, are looking to reach the Sweet 16 for the 12th time and first since 2005. Illinois has won two of three all-time meetings with Duquesne.
Tipoff from the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb., is scheduled for 8:40 p.m. ET. Illinois has a plus-10.7 point differential this season, 23rd-best in the nation, while Duquesne is at plus-4.7, 113th-best. The Fighting Illini are 10-point favorites in the latest Duquesne vs. Illinois odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 147. Before making any Illinois vs. Duquesne picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters the 2024 NCAA tournament on a 148-106 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It also has a strong 29-19 (+810) record on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Illinois vs. Duquesne. You can head to SportsLine now to see its picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Duquesne vs. Illinois:
- Duquesne vs. Illinois spread: Illinois -10
- Duquesne vs. Illinois over/under: 147 points
- Duquesne vs. Illinois money line: Duquesne +379, Illinois -509
- DUQ: The Dukes have hit the game total under in 25 of their last 32 games (+18.40 units)
- ILL: The Fighting Illini have hit the game total over in 23 of their last 28 games (+17.45 units)
- Duquesne vs. Illinois picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Illinois can cover
Senior forward Coleman Hawkins has been a steady performer for the Illini. He is coming off a 10-point, five-assist, four-rebound and two-steal effort in the win over Morehead State. He has started all 32 games he has played in, and is averaging 12.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks in 31.6 minutes. He has two double-doubles on the year, including a 22-point and 13-rebound effort in a 96-91 overtime loss at Northwestern on Jan. 24.
Senior forward Quincy Guerrier has also been a force for the Illini. He has nine double-doubles on the year, including a 14-point and 13-rebound effort in a 73-61 win at Iowa in the regular-season finale on March 10. He scored a season-high 28 points in a 97-73 win over Missouri on Dec. 22. In 35 games, all starts, Guerrier is averaging 9.7 points and 6.2 rebounds in 24.4 minutes. See which team to pick at SportsLine.
Why Duquesne can cover
Senior guard Dae Dae Grant is the Dukes' top scorer, averaging 16.7 points per game. He has registered 2,234 career points and was instrumental in the first-round win over BYU. In that game, he finished with 19 points, while adding three rebounds, two assists and a steal. He is the team's top free-throw shooter, connecting on 94.1% of his foul shots.
Senior forward Fousseyni Drame brings experience to the Dukes. The fifth-year player has played in 158 career games for three schools, including last season at La Salle and three years at Saint Peter's. In 36 games this season for Duquesne, he has made five starts, while averaging 6.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 21.1 minutes. He is coming off a near double-double against BYU on Thursday with eight points and eight rebounds. See which team to pick at SportsLine.
How to make Duquesne vs. Illinois picks
The model is leaning Under on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 146 points. It also says one side of the spread is the better value. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Illinois vs. Duquesne, and which side of the spread is the better value? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the computer model that is 29-19 on top-rated college basketball spread picks this season.
