The third-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini (27-8) and 11th-seeded Duquesne Dukes (25-11) square off in an NCAA Tournament second-round East Region matchup as they try to reach the Sweet 16. Tipoff is set for 8:40 p.m. ET from CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb.

The Fighting Illini are 10-point favorites and the over/under for total points scored is 147 in the college basketball odds from the SportsLine consensus for Duquesne vs. Illinois.  

Before making any Duquesne vs. Illinois picks or NCAA Tournament predictions, you need to check out the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model. (See up-to-date odds for every game this week on our college basketball odds page.)

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 it has seen huge returns.

The model knows the Fighting Illini have been red hot, winning eight of nine, and are led by senior guard Terrence Shannon Jr. The fifth-year player has scored 25 or more points in each of the last five games. He poured in 26 points and added four assists, two rebounds, two blocks and two steals in the first-round win over Morehead State on Thursday. He had 40 points, two steals and two rebounds in a 98-87 win over Nebraska in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.

It is also aware Dukes senior guard Dae Dae Grant has been on fire of late. In Thursday's NCAA first-round win over BYU, he poured in 19 points, while adding three rebounds and two assists. He had 27 points, three assists and two rebounds in a 70-60 win over St. Bonaventure in the Atlantic 10 Tournament semifinals on March 16. He has scored 30 or more points in three games, including a 31-point performance in an 81-66 victory over Saint Louis on Feb. 20.

For Saturday, the model has set its sights on the 2024 NCAA Tournament and Duquesne vs. Illinois. We can tell you the model is leaning Under on the point total, and it also says one side of the spread is the better value! You absolutely need to see the model before locking in any college basketball picks.

Who wins Duquesne vs. Illinois, and which side of the spread is the better value? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the Duquesne vs. Illinois spread you should be all over, all from the model that's 29-19 on top-ranked college basketball spread picks!