March Madness Props and Best Bets: Illinois vs UConn Predictions for the Elite 8

Prop bet #1: Shannon scores with ease

The third-leading scorer in the nation during the regular season, guard Terrence Shannon Jr has been the driving force behind the Illinois Fighting Illini's power run to the Elite Eight.

He's averaging 28.3 points per game on a crisp 59.2% shooting clip during this tournament run, which is a massive leave from his regular season numbers of 23.5 ppg and 48.3% shooting. 

In his last 17 games, the senior from Chicago has scored at least 23 points 14 times. UConn has let just one player reach the 20-point mark but Shannon Jr. will be the first legit scoring threat they'll have faced.

Terrence Shannon Jr. prop: Over 22.5 points (-110 at DraftKings)

Prop bet #2: Finding teammates

It’s been quite a run for UConn Huskies’ lead guard Tristen Newton, his latest performance a big reason why UConn was able to thrash the San Diego State and make its way to Beantown.

The senior was second in the Big East in assists on the season (6.1), while ranking inside the Top 20 in the nation. He's also averaging 7.3 dimes across his three March Madness games.

His line is again set at a makeable 5.5, a figure he had topped in four straight before the win over SDSU. Illinois has been stingy with the pass, allowing just 12.3 dimes per game at the tournament, and only one player has recorded more than four assists against them in a game.

On the year, the Illini are just outside the Top 70 in assists allowed at 11.9 per contest. However, I think the level-up catches them here, as Newton has both the skills and experience in these big games.

Tristen Newton prop: Over 5.5 assists (-150 at DraftKings)

Prop bet #3: Ran off the line

It was good timing for senior guard Cam Spencer to put up his best scoring game of the tournament, pouring in a team-high 18 in the win over SDSU.

Spencer, a transfer from Rutgers, hit 44.1% from distance on the year, on a career-best 5.8 attempts per game, but his body of work of late has been a struggle. In his last 14 games, he's failed to hit 3+ triples in a contest 10 times, and his only breakthrough at the tournament was a 3-for-7 effort against 16th-seeded Stetson.

Since giving up 30 attempts to Morehead State in Round 1, Illinois has made a conscious effort to run the opposition off the arc. Duquesne was just 5-for-17 from distance while Iowa State took 13 attempts, hitting six.

Spencer still might come close, but if his volume remains the same — he’s taken four triples in each of the last two games — I’m betting on him falling short. 

Cam Spencer prop: Under 2.5 made threes (-160 at DraftKings)