How to bet Saturday's national semifinal games: Who will win the rematch between Illinois and UConn?
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- The 2026 men's basketball national semifinals feature Illinois vs. UConn at 6:09 p.m. ET and Michigan vs. Arizona at approximately 8:49 p.m., with Illinois and Michigan favored by 1.5 points in their respective games.
- Illinois is favored on the moneyline (-130) against UConn due to their efficient offense, better shooting, size advantage, and ball control, despite UConn's strong defensive history against them.
- The prediction for the Michigan-Arizona game is to take the first half under 73.5 points, citing strong defenses, past low-scoring matchups, and the expectation that both teams will be well-prepared after several days of rest.
- For the ESPN Men's Tournament Challenge Eliminator game, Illinois is recommended as the pick, with the reasoning that they may lose in the final, making them the best choice for this stage of the competition.
