Illinois Takes Penn to Seven Points, Stunning 83-75 Final!

ITHACA, NY - MARCH 14: Pennsylvania Quakers Head Coach Fran McCaffery hugs one of his assistants after winning the Ivy League Women's Basketball Championship game between the Harvard Crimson and the Princeton Tigers on March 14, 2026, at Newman Arena in Itaca, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Illinois will be reunited with an old friend this week in South Carolina — but the oddsmakers don’t predict an upset. The Illini earned a No.

3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a date with former Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery and his Ivy League champs, No. 14 Penn. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Illinois opened Sunday night as a 22.

5-point favorite over the Quakers. The total is set at 149. 5.

While Illinois has struggled to close over the past month against high level competition in Big Ten play, the Illini have dominated teams like Penn all season, and FanDuel clearly doesn’t think that will be an issue Thursday in Greenville. With a win, Illinois would face the winner of No. 6 UNC and No.