There’s a showdown in the South Region between the No. 2 Houston Cougars and No. 3 Illinois Fighting Illini on Thursday night.
This Sweet 16 pairing is a great contrast in styles, with the Cougars’ smothering defense trying to slow down the Illini’s elite offense.
That clash opens up opportunities beyond the side and total. I shop the markets for my best Illinois vs. Houston player props, dishing out some more March Madness picks for March 26.
Illinois vs Houston props
| Player | Pick |  |
|---|---|---|
 David Mirkovic |
Over 2.5 assists | +130 |
 Kingston Flemings |
Over 16.5 points | -140 |
| Tomislav Ivisic |
Over 7.5 points | -120 |
Prop #1: David Mirkovic Over 2.5 assists
This assist prop was one of the first bets I placed when the Sweet 16 odds expanded to the players. If the Illinois Fighting Illini are going to break this Houston Cougars' defense, it has to do it with ball movement.
Illinois needs to spread Houston out, and power forward David Mirkovic is a perfect conduit for Illinois. He plays away from the rim and has an excellent eye for open teammates, either hitting dump-downs or swinging the ball to spot-up shooters.
Mirkovic is also live on the offensive glass – a soft spot for UH – and crashes from outside to grab second-chance possessions. From there, he passes out to perimeter threats.
The Illini freshman has recorded three or more assists in four straight games and in eight of his last 11 outings. At +130, this Over 1.5 assist prop provides great value.
Prop #2: Kingston Flemings Over 16.5 points
Houston’s defense hasn’t been as impenetrable as in previous tournaments, so the Cougars could find themselves going tit for tat with Illinois. They’ll turn to their freshman star to lead the charge.
After being somewhat passive in the opening two games of the tournament, including just nine points in the win over Texas A&M, Kingston Flemings will rise to the occasion in this head-to-head comparison with Illinois star Keaton Wagler.
The Illini aren’t the most aggressive defense, opting to drop back into the paint, and Flemings will enjoy plenty of space from outside. He’s been able to find another gear against top-tier opponents, and game projections sit as high as 18+ points.
Rohit Ponnaiya really loves Flemings in this one and is also taking his 20+ points alternative points total at +150.
Prop #3: Tomislav Ivisic Over 7.5 points
Seven-footer Tomislav Ivisic could be the inside-out threat that the Illini lean on in this game.
Houston doesn’t allow dribble-drive into the paint, but Ivisic holds a massive size edge over the Coogs' interior and will offer a post-up option on the blocks, giving him some looks at the rim.
Ivisic isn’t shy about shooting from distance either, attempting four or more triples in all but one of his last 18 games. He went 2-for-5 from 3-point range in the victory over VCU, finishing with 14 points.
He’s posted double figures in both NCAA Tournament tilts, and before a bumpy end to Big Ten play, Ivisic was putting up 10+ most nights in February. Projections vary, with some models giving a high of 9+ points in the Sweet 16.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
