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Illinois vs. Maryland prediction: Why Illinois is favored to win men's college basketball matchup [3/8/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Jason Bevilacqua, Head of Content and Communities
Get Illinois vs Maryland predictions for college basketball Sunday.
Maryland and Illinois will lock horns in men's college basketball action at XFINITY Center on Sunday, with tipoff at 3:00 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulation results, Dimers' advanced college basketball model predicts Illinois as the most likely winner of the Illinois vs. Maryland game.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Sunday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and picks.
Illinois vs. Maryland prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using trusted machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Sunday's NCAA basketball game between Illinois and Maryland 10,000 times as part of our men's college basketball predictions coverage.
Our famous predictive model currently gives Illinois an 87% chance of beating Maryland. Our predicted final score has Illinois winning 79-67.
According to our model, Maryland (+15.5) has a 60% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 145.5 points has a 52% chance of going over.
Illinois vs. Maryland odds
We have researched the best men's college basketball odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Illinois | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | -15.5 (-102) | +15.5 (-120) |
| Moneyline | -1400 | +950 |
| Total | o145.5 (-108) | u145.5 (-110) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Illinois vs. Maryland picks and best bet
After matching our probabilities 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 | Maryland +15.5 | -120 |
| Moneyline | Maryland | +950 |
| Total | Over 145.5 | -108 |
According to our men's college basketball best bets, the top play to make on this game is Maryland +15.5 at the spread.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Illinois vs. Maryland game-day updates and essential details
Sunday's men's college basketball action between Maryland and Illinois at XFINITY Center is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM ET.
- Who: Illinois vs. Maryland
- Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026
- Time: 3:00 PM ET/12:00PM PT
- Venue: XFINITY Center
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Conclusion
We predict Illinois, with an 87% win probability, will likely beat Maryland on Sunday.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Illinois vs. Maryland insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are sourced from up-to-date 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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