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Illinois State vs. Wake Forest prediction: Why Wake Forest is favored to win NIT matchup [3/22/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Jason Bevilacqua, Head of Content and Communities
Get Illinois State vs Wake Forest predictions for college basketball Sunday.
Wake Forest and Illinois State will lock horns in the 2026 National Invitational Tournament at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, starting at 4:30 PM ET.
Based on updated simulations, Dimers' advanced college basketball model projects Wake Forest as the most likely winner of the Illinois State vs. Wake Forest game.
This article offers further insights into Sunday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and picks.
Illinois State vs. Wake Forest prediction: Who will win NIT matchup?
Using trusted machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the result of Sunday's NCAA basketball matchup between Illinois State and Wake Forest 10,000 times as part of our men's college basketball predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model currently gives Wake Forest an 80% chance of beating Illinois State. Our predicted final score has Wake Forest winning 80-71.
According to our model, Wake Forest (-8.5) has a 55% chance of covering the spread, while the 152.5-point over/under has a 54% chance of staying under.
Illinois State vs. Wake Forest odds
We have researched the best men's college basketball odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Illinois State | Wake Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | +8.5 (-110) | -8.5 (-102) |
| Moneyline | +290 | -335 |
| Total | o152.5 (-110) | u152.5 (-110) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Illinois State vs. Wake Forest picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Wake Forest -8.5 | -102 |
| Moneyline | Wake Forest | -335 |
| Total | Under 152.5 | -110 |
According to our men's college basketball best bets, the top play to make on this game is Wake Forest -8.5 at the spread.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Illinois State vs. Wake Forest game-day updates and essential details
Sunday's men's college basketball action between Wake Forest and Illinois State at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum is scheduled to commence at 4:30 PM ET.
- Who: Illinois State vs. Wake Forest
- Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
- Time: 4:30 PM ET/1:30PM PT
- Venue: Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum
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Conclusion
We predict Wake Forest, with an 80% win probability, will likely beat Illinois State this men's National Invitational Tournament matchup.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Illinois State vs. Wake Forest insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are sourced from the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Jason Bevilacqua, an expert in MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, and NFL, delivers game previews, best bets, and props. Since 2020, as Head of Social and Community at Dimers, he has contributed insightful articles utilizing data-driven models and simulations.
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