Pennsylvania vs. Illinois prediction: Why Illinois is favored to win men's March Madness First Round matchup [3/19/2026]

Illinois will square off with Pennsylvania in March Madness First Round action at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Thursday, commencing at 9:45 PM ET.

Based on the latest simulations, Dimers' proven college basketball model predicts Illinois as the most likely winner of the Pennsylvania vs. Illinois game.

This article offers further insights into Thursday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and picks.

Pennsylvania vs. Illinois prediction: Who will win and advance to the Second Round?

Using powerful machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the result of Thursday's NCAAM Tournament game between Pennsylvania and Illinois 10,000 times as part of our men's college basketball predictions coverage.

Our famous predictive model gives Illinois a 98% chance of beating Pennsylvania. Our predicted final score has Illinois winning 89-62.

According to our model, Illinois (-25.5) has a 53% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 151.5 points has a 52% chance of going over.

Pennsylvania vs. Illinois odds

We have researched the best men's college basketball odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Pennsylvania	Illinois
Spread	+25.5 (-110)	-25.5 (-108)
Moneyline	+3500	-8000
Total	o151.5 (-105)	u151.5 (-115)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Pennsylvania vs. Illinois 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	Illinois -25.5	-108
Moneyline	Illinois	-8000
Total	Over 151.5	-105

According to our men's college basketball best bets, the top play to make on this game is Illinois -25.5 at the spread.

These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.

Pennsylvania vs. Illinois game-day updates and essential details

Thursday's men's college basketball action between Illinois and Pennsylvania at Bon Secours Wellness Arena is scheduled to commence at 9:45 PM ET.

• Who: Pennsylvania vs. Illinois
• Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
• Time: 9:45 PM ET/6:45PM PT
• Venue: Bon Secours Wellness Arena
• March Madness stage: First Round

College basketball betting and fantasy promos and codes

Make the most of Dimers' Pennsylvania vs. Illinois predictions by exploring the below offers from OG, Bet365, BetMGM, and Thrillzz.

Conclusion

We predict Illinois, with a 98% win probability, will likely beat Pennsylvania this men's March Madness First Round matchup.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Pennsylvania vs. Illinois 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.

Note: Clicking links to our partners may earn us a referral fee. Learn about how we review products and services.