Illinois vs VCU Prediction 3/21/26 College Basketball Picks Today
VCU (28-7) vs. Illinois (25-8)
March 21, 2026 7:50 pm EDT
The Line: Illinois -11.5; Over/Under: 151.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The VCU Rams and the Illinois Fighting Illini meet Saturday in college basketball action from the Bon Secours Wellness Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a VCU Rams vs. Illinois Fighting Illini prediction.
VCU Rams Recap
The VCU Rams come into this game looking to add on to their 83-78 OT win over North Carolina from the Round of 64.
Rams Looking To Build On Comeback Win
Terrence Hill Jr. leads the Rams in scoring with 14.9 PPG while Lazar Djokovic has 13.6 PPG with 5.4 RPG to lead VCU in rebounding to make up the pair of double-digit scorers for VCU so far this season. Jadrian Tracey has 9.6 PPG with 2.8 RPG while Nyk Lewis has 8.9 PPG with 4.6 RPG and Brandon Jennings has 8.6 PPG with 3.5 RPG. As a team, VCU is averaging 81.6 PPG on 46% shooting from the field, 36.7% from three and 73.9% from the foul line this season.
Why the VCU Rams will win
- VCU has won 17 of its last 18 games.
Illinois Fighting Illini Recap
The Illinois Fighting Illini come into this game looking to build on their 105-70 blowout win over Penn last time out.
Illini Looking To Add On To Blowout
Keaton Wagler leads the Illini in scoring and assists with 17.9 PPG along with 4.9 RPG and 4.5 APG while Andrej Stojakovic has 13.3 PPG with 4.6 RPG. Kylan Boswell has 13.2 PPG with 4 RPG and 3.2 APG and David Mirkovic has 13.8 PPG with a team-high 8 RPG to lead the Illini in rebounding as well this season. Tomislav Ivisic has 10.1 PPG with 5.6 RPG to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for Illinois up to this point in the year. Zvonimir Ivisic also has 7 PPG and 4.8 RPG as well this season. As a team, Illinois is averaging 84.4 PPG on 46.3% shooting from the field, 34.7% from three and 78.9% from the foul line this season.
Why the Illinois Fighting Illini will win
- Illinois has won each of its last 12 March games as an AP-ranked team against a non-AP-ranked team.
- VCU has lost 12 of its last 13 games against AP-ranked opponents at a neutral venue.
Total Points Facts
- Eight of Illinois’ last nine games against non-AP-ranked opponents at a neutral venue have produced a total of 152+ points.
- Each of VCU’s last four games against AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 160+ points.
VCU Rams vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction
I’m on the Illini here. I get the case to be made for VCU, and I wanted to be on the Rams here, but the Rams are coming off of that miraculous comeback win over North Carolina, and Illinois took a while to turn it on but eventually showed their true colors in blowing Penn out of the water. I think this Illinois team is legit and I think the Illini get the win and cover in this one to send VCU packing.
